Birchbox 2014 - March

Birchbox Website

So beauty box month and here is my Birchbox for the month of March. This month was influenced by Lulu Guinness. Il be honest I was so excited seeing the box, thinking it would be that design. It turned out to just be a sleeve that was around it. So I was intrigued as to what would be included this month. I only had the menu card as via email, birchbox said the booklets were missing. We would be sent them within the week. 

Contents were ;

- Molton brown : Hand cream 

- Benefit : Stay don't stray 

- English laundry fragrance 

- Dr brant : Pore refiner 

- Aromaworks : relaxing oil 

Extra 

- Lulu Guinness black stripe rock

So the rundown per product :

- Molton brown hand cream looks lovely to use and travel friendly. Has a lovely scent and consistency. Can't wait to try this sample during the week.

-Benefit Stay don't stray is a new product for me to try. One I'm looking forward too trying, as it will give me a good indication of its performance. Again small sample, so unsure how many uses I will get to make a concrete opinion. 

-Dr Brant Pore refiner is a product I really want to crack open and trial. I love primers and any that can refine my pores, will be a winner in my book.

-English laundry company fragrance was the only downside to this box. I didn't like the last sample I recieved. I'm very picky with fragrance. 

- Aromaworks body oil is not something I've come across before. Also again the sample is tiny, you would need to use in one area to see if it made a difference. 

-Extra Stick of rock is quite big and I like the design. Plus it's a real treat as I can't go to the seaside. However I have to pass this on as I'm diabetic. I'm sure my husband will happily eat it with glee.

So overall was a slight disappointment in sample size. The products were good, I just wish they would give us a full size. I also like that they made sure I got my skin tone with the Benefit product. My pet peeve is perfume samples, as I have probably sampled and tried it. (I subscribe to a perfume/aftershave) box. So on the fence with this box. 

What are your thoughts ? Did you recieved a different box ? 

Birchbox - February 2014 ( We love your style )

https://birchbox.co.uk

Box time of the year and it's febuary so all valentine themed boxes. Mostly makeup indulged I hope for that night with a loved one. Honestly everyday is nice and loved, so one day is not a deal breaker for me. However I hope you all had a lovely day, in whichever way you chose to spend it. So shall we see the birchbox contribution for the month. 

Taking a totally different route then valentines, birchbox went with fashion week theme. "We love your style" so was a box for all no matter your marital status. Bravo !!

Contents of the box ;

- Eyeko : Skinny liner (mini sample in black) 

- Leighton Denny Nail polish (Full size)

- Beauty protector : Protect & Oil

- Janijra spa concentrate - Facial serum 

- Gilchrist & Soames - The London collection shower gel

- Extra : Mini bar of Green & Blacks rich dark chocolate. 

Review and product overview

Eyeko : Skinny liner in mini sample size, colour black is an item I have had in full size. Honestly I did not get on with this, as I found it dragged and flaked off. It didn't give a strong black colour pigment I like, so I'm going to try it again. Let's see if second time around it proves me wrong. 

Leighton Denny : Nail polish again ? Seriously ?? I'm not saying it's not a fabulous brand. Just every box it feels like nail polish is the staple item of the month. Please can we have something different. I have enough to fill a pool that I'm begging people to take them. 

Beauty protector : Protect and oil is just right up my alley as I love hair oils. I have dry hair as it's naturally curly so I do need to infuse it with as much nurishments as possible. This tiny bottle will not take long to use up, but it will last a fair few uses. You only need a few drops but with my hair being so long, that's why I'm saying it may only take me a shorter time. 

Gilchrist & Soames - Shower gel is not something I've heard of and I just think again, another shower gel. I have loads and wish I could mix up the products a little bit more. Id love something other then shower gel in every Birchbox, it's like the nail polish senario. 

Janijra facial serum - again is not another brand I'm farmiliar with, it is mainly spa listed. Also it says it should be a 30ml sample, yet the picture above is tiny. I look forward to trying this product, however for a facial concentrate there is only so much you can see with a tiny sample. I'm open minded though to see its effects. 

Other box plus's - 

I loved the cards in this months Birchbox as they were quirky, also the step-by-step guide for eyeliner. It was very impressive. So they were a plus in the box for me too. 

Did you get this months Birchbox ? What were your products ? 

Birchbox - January 2014

Birchbox Website

So Christmas is over and a new year begins. So with a new year comes New Years resolutions, plus detoxing from the over indulgence. So with lemons on the box, a favourite for detoxing lemon water this box is titled " Tiny tweaks". 

So the contents of the Box ; 

- Tommyguns : Fig, plum and marshamallow conditioner ( Rrp £5.50) 

- Benefit : Porefessional ( £24.50 Rrp)

- Noble Isle : Willow song bath & shower gel ( £20.00 Rrp) 

- Vasanti : Detox facial cleanser (£18.00 Rrp) 

- Premae : Nutrient body Oil ( £9.50 Rrp)

Extra : Miso Soup (£2.25 for 3 sachets) 

Now I won't lie I was disappointed with not having a Rodial sample to trial. My online surveys had said I was to receive the Rodial SPF, but then upon dispatch this had been changed with the Nobel Isle shower gel. So not impressed that I had my sample removed and changed. I've tried Noble isle before and honestly it's not something that amazed me. 

Benefit porefessional is a cult classic and honestly it's a great sample to have for travel. I like that benefit has joined birchbox and I'm hoping more brands take suit. I would love more Benefit samples for future boxes. Sadly no makeup to trial with the sample.

Vasanti Detox cleanser is a new brand to me and I will be interested to see how this works for my skin. As it says it will remove all traces of makeup. I use a clarisonic and I do have the odd trace left. So will be interesting to see if this does remove everything. 

Tommyguns Conditioner sounds amazingly yummy. I was glad I recieved this instead of the phillip Kingsley sample.  I love these scents and it's a massive sample being 250mls, so I'm interested to see how this conditions my hair. Being £5.50 it's expensive for conditioner but lovely for a treat.

Noble Isle Shower gel like I said is a sample I have tried before, so I'm really not too excited by this. I didn't really like the scent and passed this on when i recieved this before. I think it will have the same fate. I'm gutted this was not the Rodial as promised. 

Miso Soup (Extra) is something I can't use as I'm on a diet controlled plan for my health. I know miso is supposed to be great for diets but it's not something I can add to mine. I will happily pass this on to my vegan family member whom loves soup and light foods. Nothing going to waste. 

Premae Nourishing Oil sounds amazing and so great for my dry skin at the moment. I do love oils and as long as there is no hint of rose, then I'm sure it will be fantastic. I really love hair oils as they add something exotic and luxiourious to your routine. I'm glad of the  spritz bottle as I think it will disperse easier. 

So overall it's a lovely box and has some amazing samples. However I think everyone should have had the opportunity for a high end Rodial sample. There was 3 options and I was to receive the SPF sample, which I was so thrilled with. However the next day on dispatch, this had changed so i was very disappointed. It's not something I can get a chance to try, as I'm not able to go to a store to pick one up. So this was my only complaint with Birchbox this month. 

Birchbox - Dec 2013 Christmas edition

Birchbox Website

So this is the Christmas edition from Birchbox and i must say i was quite impressed. However again it wasn't overwhelming. Maybe we have been spoilt with Laura mercier these past two months to appreciate the contents fully. In looking at my box after some thinking, i came to the conclusion it was a far more cohesive box then its counterpart. It had items for haircare, skincare, makeup and nail item to jazz your look for the festive season. 

Contents :

Nail Rock - Glitter nail art kit

Twistband hair tie

Sin care - Party girl Facial serum

Alima pure - Luminous eyeshadow

Number 4 - Non aerosol hair spray

Aromatherapy Associates - Bath oil 

So my box was very generous and quite surprising. I wasn't expecting the serum or to receive quite decent sample sizes. This sin-care facial serum is always a nice option within a box to trial new skincare. Aromatherapy associates i really like there oils and only takes a small amount to gain great throws of scents. 

So the party items in the Nail rock kit (Mine was the golden glitter) i usually would find this quite messy and just go with adding a top coated glitter polish. However I'm willing to try something new and pamper myself for an evening doing my nails. Plus its a full kit so you will gain a few uses from this set. The Alima pure eyeshadow is a lovely almost duo-chromes of vanilla and golden tones to add to a lovely christmas look. Really multi functional use as you can use this as a subtle highlight for new year as well (If your going for a party look).

The twist-band is a really good item to have as an emergency in your bag. As you may find you need to tie your hair up when it gets too hot within a function, this will protect your hair. Unfortunately my hair is so thick it would not hold my hair as from previous experience. I will try this one to see if the band is better able to hold my hair on this occasion.  As with the Hairspray it offers a light and free coating on the hair, however it was in my opinion not going to offer my hair the hold it requires. 

So overall the box as i said was good and covers all the bases to help the party season go off with a bang, plus its great sample sizes. All the things we ask for in beauty box but just don't feel this years boxes went far enough to surprise. The gift card was useless as to spend $20 in a overseas shop then all the customs and expense that comes with it, really is not worth the hassle. Especially when you think they could have bulk sent them over to distribute in our boxes. So a better box then counterparts but could have had more wow factor. 

Birchbox October 2013

Birchbox Website

So I did take a break from beauty boxes and then was sent the preview of the October box. I was so impressed with the contents that I decided to give Birchbox another go. Im so glad I did as you will see the quality is amazing this month. 

They say :

Co-founders Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp met at Harvard Business School. They created Birchbox to help consumers cut through the clutter of the retail world to find products that really work for them. Based in New York City, Birchbox launched in September 2010 and acquired JolieBox in September 2012. To date, Birchbox has shipped over 5,000,000 Birchboxes globally and currently has a global subscriber base of over 400,000 people. Birchbox has been featured by Time, Bloomberg Businessweek, InStyle and Marie Claire, among others.

So this months box was #BBXbuzz theme.

So the contents :

Laura Mercier - Foundation primer 

TheBalm Cosmetics - Stainiac

Egyptian Magic - 

Dr Bragt - Microdermabrasion treatment 

KMS California - Curl Up

Dr lipp - Nipple lip balm

      ----------------------------

Chia Shots (Birchbox extra) 

So can I just say wow amazing box, for starters the contents are all products I've been dying to try. They are decent samples sizes to get a great impression, if I like them enough to purchase full sized. 

So the first four let's run down on : 

Laura Mercier : Foundation primer

One of the most talked about products on the blogging network. This is the one product I want to see if it lives up to all the hype. I have my holy grail primer and I want to see if this primer will give me the same effect. 

KMS California : Curl Up

KMS California is a well known product and I've seen this brand many times. I'm so glad Birchbox are actually using the profiles, I also recieved a hair product for my "Curly hair". I'm so happy its targeted towards my hair type. I cannot wait to use this product.

Dr Brandt's - Microdermabrasion treatment 

Well I've heard of the respected Dr Brandt's skincare range and have tried some sample products. However I've not had a decent sized sample like this to trial and gain a decent opinion on the range. 

TheBalm Cosmetics - Stainiac

This is a beautiful colour stain that is for lips and cheeks. Now I don't usually use a stain as I find you need to work exceptionally quick if you wish this as a cheek colour, as i did find it dries super quick. 

Chia Shots - Green smoothie

These are a extra from Birchbox and I don't usually like these extras, as I'm not wanting health items like tea and suppliments. I can't take them for medical reasons so I do end up giving these away. I don't mind but I'd love a option to either a beauty tool or health option.  However with this box I'm not bothered by this addition, I am happy with all the products I want to try.

So what can I say other then I'm so glad i signed up to Birchbox again if this is the current standard of products being sent out. I could not say other then the Chia shots there is one product I'm unhappy with, each were to my skin type and also hair type which just goes to show maybe the profiles are being utilised now. So roll onto the next Birchbox for November and its contents.

Did you receive the October birchbox ? What did you receive ? 

Birchbox April 2013 - In bloom

So box time again and first to arrive was Birchbox, with the title "In bloom" was quite fitting as the magazines cover was a cherry blossom tree in bloom. The long awaited anticipation of spring arriving. 

So with that being said, what did they bring to the table for this months offerings ?

So the contents were 

• Gerda Spillmann - Renaissance Age serum / Sample size 3ml 
• La Societe Parisienne De Savons Soap / Full size 
• Mirenesse - Glossy Kiss Lipstick in shade perfect kiss / full size
• Weleda Skin food / Sample size 10ml
• Natio Gentle foaming facial cleanser / Sample size 20ml 

Extra gift - Paname Paris Mirror / worth £7.50

Now to say initially my thoughts on each part of the box would be fair.

So the Gerda Spillmann age serum i was not impressed with as the sample is tiny and to get any sort of judgement on weither a product works you need decent sized samples to test the theory. Also we had this brand in a recent Birchbox and funnily enough i would love to try new brands and not recurring brands products. 

The La société parisienne de savons soap .... what can i say to this as I'm so annoyed with this product beyond unhappy, its a granny looking sample of soap and thats my opinion i know. But when you open it and see the soap and smell the scent i just think of my nan. Plus the retro packaging yes is quirky and fun but i would have loved a pressed powder or blush of some sort being inspired from paris. Plus no lie I've just come out of hospital and the soaps are wrapped the same in there without the box obviously but the same style and god awful smell. 

Mirenesse is a brand i know from trying some products via the LIB boxes and i must say this is the saving grace of the box, i love the shade and the packaging, however I'm not impressed that i have to sharpen what looks like plastic packaging to use the whole of the product. I will find a way I'm sure as it is lovely. 

Weleda skin food is again another brand i know of and have used, i really like this sample as I've tried it before along with the pomegranate range. I like it and will use this as a extra night time moisturiser or a great sample to take in my over night bag. Other then that it doesn't wow me as something new and inspiring.

So finally the Natio cleansing foaming facial, which is a decent size and is a mix of ingredients such as Shea butter, sandalwood, lemon and jojoba. It smells really fresh and i will enjoy using this as it is a brand I've seen in debenhams and thought of purchasing but never have. So this is a good sample for me.

The added extra of the mirror was nice as a handbag essential and honestly i will be putting it in my bag to use, I'm forever forgetting to take a mirror and then end up cursing myself during the day for my stupidity. So nice touch but really, when the bonus gift is more exciting then the samples inside . It must come to a point where you think hummm where do we go next. As birchbox in america gets some amazing new brand releases that i wish our UK office would source for us. We don't want the same brand over and over again as its just pointless to me to see the same old thing coming in boxes, plus you will loose your customer base. After last month and getting a really rubbish cleanser instead of a beauty blender , which honestly to a makeup mad woman like me would have been a dream come true is just pure kick in the teeth feeling. Il be seeing what the next months offerings are before i make my mind up. Should i stay or should i go ?

What was in your birch box ? Did you like it ?

Birchbox - March 2013

So new birchbox arrival and I must say the quality of these boxes is quite wonderful and back to beauty box premiums.

Now whilst i was quite upset to recieve this box as I think the other version would have suited me better.

I'm happy with my products.

So the contents are

Laura Geller - Inkwell Waterproof gel liner in Black

Molton Brown - Valbonne Fragrance

RMK - Cleansing balm

La Sultane de saba - Body lotion with argan oil

Yu-Be - Moisturising skin cream

Extras

Sanctuary - 30 day thermal Transformation mask

Lindt - Lindor heart tin

So in the box as always is the Birchbox magazine.

Now to the contents, i must admit i was hoping for the other box as I'm a makeup nerd and i love anything that i can try to make my foundation more flawless. Now saying that I'm happy with this box as i spied one product i really love and adore using. 

As people may know i love Gel eyeliner, i think the cat flick look is just fabulous and so sexy. Now Laura geller is a brand i know and her spackle line of flawless finish makeup. So I'm really excited to try this and its a generous full size. So will last a while for me.

Now the next product is the Sanctuary 30 day thermal mask which i have tried in various other boxes and loved but my mother in law likes it more so it will be finding a home with her. I have tried it and its left my skin feeling lovely but i just prefer my clarisonic at the minute and i don't want to tilt my routine.

So now moving on to the Molton Brown fragrance, now i know molton brown range of shower gels and creams, which are just luxiourous. Now its a mix of bergamot and orange flower. Personally not to my taste but i have a friend that loves this so it will be again off to a lovely home.

Now the Yu-be tiny tube sample of cream which is japanese by branding, fairly generous as literally a dab of this and it melts to spread quite far. I used this on my lips and its did leave them moisturised plus its multi functional. Can be used on dry patches and any places you need a dab of cream. These mini samples usually go in my bag for when I'm out at the hospital and the air conditioning is killing the hydration in my skin and lips. It smells to me like eucalyptus oil and I'm not keen on that but as it says it doesn't stay with you long and then you cannot notice the smell. So handy little sample.

Now the lindt heart shaped chocolates, they are lovely and well chocolate and beauty items... yes please, but still on lent so hubby has my heart right now.

The final 2 products are the RMK - cleansing balm and i have to be honest i really do not like rose scents and this is just really not my kind of balm. Rose i suppose is just so associated with older women and yes its wrong but im young and i like fruity scents or something with a bit of zazz. I hope that makes sense.....Ive been wanting to try RMK for ages and i just think they could have picked a better product, but i will try it in the future and report back with a separate post.

Finally the La sultane da Saba body lotion with Argan oil, smells lovely and the little bottle is cute but i will probably only get a few uses out of this as i cream twice a day, so I'm looking forward to using it as i love argan oil infused body creams and body butters. 

So yes whilst i am a little disappointed i am happy to see the beauty box back to its usual quality and new brands plus products, decent sizes and just value for your money. Yes your not going to always get things you like but id rather that so i know what to avoid and what i will love. The sizes are generous so you can get a good gauge of what works and if it works for you. Im happy and whoop NO TEA !! Chocolate i don't mind if I'm getting a vast array of product and not in place of a product. 

So i can say I'm happy and excited to see what new brands will come in next month.

So did you get birchbox ? Was your box this one or the other ?