Birchbox // August 2015

Always late with the Birchboxes these days, it’s nearly time to post the September one already! There’s no excuse for such a delay but I’ve been mega busy, with some exciting new changes in my life at the moment, all to be revealed soon hopefully. Now back to this wonderful Birchbox…

August’s Beauty Junkie theme delivered a colourful, emoji covered box, with my Birchbox featuring: Rituals Cherry Blossom and Organic White Rice Scrub, Lord and Berry Blush in Lotus, BioNike Defence Tolerance Cleansing Water, Kebelo Clarifying Shampoo, TheBalm Cosmetics Balm Desert Bronzer, L Erickson Grab & Go Ponytail Holder, with the Lifestyle item this month – lots and lots of funky emoji stickers!

Overall thoughts: Another mixed bag I would say. I absolutely love the rice scrub, it smells amazing, the texture is just right, not a bad thing to say about it! I like trying out new cleansing products so I hope the BioNike one doesn’t disappoint (not that I’ve heard much about this brand, with all the Micellar waters out on the market, there’s definitely some competition!). To my surprise, I have been absolutely loving the L. Erickson hair band. It’s not an item I would usually pay attention to, but as I was all out of hair bands this was the only one I could find to hand – and it’s actually amazing! It’s really soft but supportive and doesn’t feel like it’s pulling on my scalp at all, even when I have my hair in a tight pony … never thought I’d be getting so hyped up about a hair band haha!

 

 

 

Birchbox // July 2015

So so late with this one, but couldn't not share the contents of my lovely Birchbox!  July's 'Make a Splash' theme Birchbox (which actually came in a bag) was the summer holiday prep edition. With four varieties in the mix: orange for St Tropez, pink for Ibiza, Green for Hydra and yellow for Somerset, I received the lovely pink one!

My 'Ibiza' bag contained: the Balance Me Congested Skin Serum, Unani Aloe Vera Gel, POP Beauty Eyeshadow trio in Peach Parfait, the Benefit Dream Screen, Jelly Pong Pong Glow Getter Luminiser Gel, and the Lifestyle item this month was a Pura Vida Headband in Aqua.

Overall thoughts: I really like the super handy clear bag, especially love it because it's pink (and coincidentally I've not long returned from a lovely holiday to Ibiza myself. Overall I think it was a good mix of products, particularly the luminiser gel (I'm really loving highlighter at the moment)and the Balance Me serum, which are my favourites from this box.

Birchbox // May 2015

This month's Birchbox incorported a creative 'Free Your Mind' theme where you got the opportunity to decorate your own box as May's design came as blank white canvas full of lovely patterns.

My May Birchbox contained: the Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Tinted Moisturiser, WAH London Nail Polish in Red, Parlor by Jeff Chastain Moisturising Sea-salt Spray, Jelly Pong Pong Caribbean Sun Bronzer Duo in Matinique, Absolution Youth Activator Mask, Number 4 Lumiere d'Hiver Reconstructing Masque and as a bonus, a set of colouring pencils was included - to decorate my box :)

Overall thoughts - reasonably pleased! (last month's box was difficult to live up to so I had pretty high expectations haha :P). I'm most looking forward to trying out the Caudalie tinted moisturiser and the sea-salt spray - which will be a perfect size to take away on holiday this summer.

Birchbox // April 2015

This month's theme was Royally Good, celebrating the due arrival of the second royal baby, available in two designs, in pink and blue.

My lovely blue April Birchbox contained: a Laura Mercier Mascara, Lola Barcelona Nail Polish in Garcia, Percy & Reed London - Soothed, Sealed and Sensational Volumising No Oil Oil, Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, Pommade Divine Nature's Remedy Balm, with the Beauty bonus this month - Inner me, energize me vitamins.

Overall impressions - what a brilliant box! Really cheered me up after the let down of last month. I've heard so much about the well loved Liz Earle Cleanser so I was super excited when it arrived in my Birchbox! Definitely the item that caught my eye the most, closely followed by the Laura Mercier Mascara which I'm also eager to try out. Overall I think there's a great combination of products this month all of which I can see myself using - something's that's a bit of rarity!

Hopefully next month's turnout will be just as great :)

Birchbox // March 2015

 

This month Birchbox collaborated with Habitat to create a gorgeous box bursting full of colour, with a special 20% off voucher for Birchbox subscribers.

 

 

 

 

 

My March box contained: the Benefit BADgal Lash Mascara (so glad I got the one I chose!), Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris fragrance, Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, Serenity Skincare Dead Sea Bath Salt and the Tan Organic Self Tanning Oil. The Lifestyle items month were a Birchbox & Habitat Exclusive Notebook and chapter 1 of 'A Perfect Heritage' by Penny Vincenzi.

 

 

Overall thoughts - A bit disappointing to be honest. Although I was really looking forward to trying the Benefit mascara, apart from that and the Elasticizer the rest of the items don't particularly appeal to me. Such a shame, but hopefully I'll get some more suitable items next month.

 

 

 

Birchbox // February 2015

February's theme was Birchbox Loves, with my box featuring:

 

 

 

London Butterflies Bath Salt Scrub (Birchbox exclusive), TheBalm Cosmetics Cindy-Lou Manizer, Cynthia Rowley Eyeliner in Black, Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo, Wild About Beauty Rose Water Illuminating Serum and the Lifestyle item this was the The Chia Co Oats + Chia in mixed berry.

 

 

 

 

 

Overall thoughts - Pretty pleased with this box, glad to see there are three full sized items this month too. I think I'm most looking forward to trying the salt scrub (which smells soo lovely) and the illuminating serum. Spring is perfect time for adopting the dewy skin look so I'm hoping this serum will give my skin the perfect luminosity.

Birchbox have now introduced the 'Slim Box' design, not sure how they're going to manage to squeeze everything in though! I like the current box as it is, as they're great to use as drawer organizers, but sadly I believe they will be bringing them out to all subscribers as of March.

A little side note - in case you were wondering what happened to my January Birchbox... Well I thought my subscription finished in February, not January, so I was patiently waiting (as my December box arrived late), until I checked my account to realise that was it! Re-subscribing in the last few days of January, my box ended up arriving only a few days before the February box. So if you wanted to see what was in mine, here is a quick snap of January's Women's Health themed box:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birchbox // November 2014

 

 

 

This month's Birchbox is 'Cosy at Home' themed, with November being all about "fireworks, bonfires, snuggly nights in and wrapping up". November's box came filled with: Weleda Lavender Relaxing Body Oil, Beauty Protector - Protect & Detangle, English Laundry Signature for Her, Lord & Berry Mini Bronzer in Sienna, Dr. Jart + Pore Refine Tight Effect Toner and for the lifestyle item this month I received a Montezuma's Mini Chocolate Bar.

 

 

 

 

Thought - very pleased indeed! I am most excited to have a play with the Lord & Berry bronzer as well as the Dr Jart+ Toner. I've heard/seen Lord & Berry mentioned a lot but have never tried anything from this brand before so I hope it doesn't disappoint. A large full sized item was also a treat this month! So far full size products have been lip balms or nail polishes - but with a full size toner worth £19 it really feels like you're getting your money's worth. Can't wait to try these out!

 

 

 

 

Birchbox // September 2014

Time for my third Birchbox already! Since I signed up for my first box in July, time seems to have flown by at a ridiculous rate and the cold months are upon us. So what's in store this month?

September's "Happy Days" theme is based around those special moments in life which make you feel ohh soo nostalgic. September's funky boxes can also be used as a photo frame to display some of your fondest memories (I prefer to use my mine to organise my make up drawers though).

This month's box revealed : an Agave Heating Oil Treatment, Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream, Korres Showergel, ModelCo Lip Lacquer in Viva and a BeautyBlender + cleanser soap. With the Lifestyle section including an Urban Fruit snackbag and the Birchbox Happy Days photo clip.

                      

 

                      

 

 

                       

 



 

 

Thoughts - initially extremely please that I now have a beauty blender! I've been thinking about purchasing the Real Techniques one but I'm glad I didn't as I now have this lovely little pink 'dabber' to play with. On the whole however I was not particularly impressed. I felt like the box was lacking was lacking excitement, as the other products did not particularly catch my eye. I am all for trying new products though so hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised.

What did you think of the September Birchbox?

Hello Birchbox!!!

 

After months and months of lusting after subscription beauty boxes I finally decided that the beautiful Birchbox was going to be 'the one' and signed up for a 6-month subscription, eagerly awaiting for my first box to arrive.

 

 

Here's what arrived in my August 2014 Birchbox, which was 'Away We Go' themed:

 

 

Number 4 Super Comb Prep and Protect conditioning spray, Chella Highlighter pencil, Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Oil, Vasanti Brightenup! Enzymatic face rejuvenator, Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream, with an additional Lifestyle treat - the first chapter of The Proposal by Tasmina Perry.

 

 

 

Thoughts - very pleased all in all! This box was all about newbies, as I wasn't familiar with any of the brands in questions, so I'm very keen to play around and get a feel for these new products. The only thing I found a little annoying is that there were two tubes of the CC cream. Even though they are only small, I am not a massive fan of BB/CC creams so didn't need more than one, but I'm hoping this one will help sway my current opinion.

 

 

Completely behind on this next one, but seeing it was my first ever Birchbox, the July 2014 box absolutely deserved a mention! As you all probably know July's theme was 'Sun, Sea and Sand ' and my beautiful box came stocked with:

 

 

 

 

Compagnie De Provence mediterranean sea handcream, Balance Me wonder eye cream, Laqa & Co Sheer Lip Lube Pencil in Bees Knees, Benefit - The Porefessional, Soigne Nail Lacquer and finally a Lifestyle treat - The Chia Co Shots, super healthy stuff to add to your daily diet.

 

 

First impressions - very exciting! Although I'd seen many reviews and videos it was a hell of a lot more exciting opening up your own box for the first time! I was pleased to find a mixture of brands I already new and ones that I'd never even heard of, as this for me, was exactly what I was hoping to get out of the Birchbox experience.

Reviews coming up when everything has been tried and tested :)