BIRCHBOX SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED MARCH 2017

I used to have so many beauty box subscriptions each month that I had so many samples building up that I decided to stop my subscriptions even though I really enjoyed receiving them each month. It’s been over a year since I last received a Birchbox. I saw that March’s box would include one of the new Benefit lip products, even better you could choose which shade you wanted, so I decided to purchase a box. This was the content of my box;
Benefit They’re Real! Double The Lip – I chose the colour Lusty Rose which is a lovely rosy nude shade. The feature of these lip products is that it’s a lip colour and lip liner in one and it really does work. This means you just need one product instead of two, which is great for on the go! The formula is semi matte but it's moisturising on the lips. I really liked the shade I picked, I would definitely look into some more shades of these.
Marcelle Gentle Make-up Remover for Sensitive Eyes – I had never heard of this brand before receiving it in my beauty box, but I was excited to use it as I tend to stick to Bioderma and it’s nice to try something new. I found this removed most of my make-up, I still cleansed my skin after using but the visible make-up had gone. This formula also helps to diminish dark circles and under eye puffiness using cucumber and green tea. It’s nice and gentle so it’s great for even sensitive eyes.
Balance Me Instant Lift Primer – I really like Balance Me body products, this was a little bit different from the range as it's verging on the make-up side of things. I liked the texture of this primer, it has a really nice citrus scent and my skin felt smooth before I applied the rest of my make-up. The primer contains hyaluronic acid and acacia gum to tighten and blur enlarged pores.
Model Co Highlighting Trio – This is a full-size product, which is quite impressive. But I’m not sure I would purchase this at £17.00. You get three colours in the palette; a peachy-pink blush, a pearlescent highlighter and a coppery bronzer. I like that these are cream products so you can put this palette in your handbag and top up on the go. The products are multi-purpose so you can use them on your cheekbones, brow bones and eyelids. The colours are pigmented and creamy in texture but they turn into a powder on your skin.
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray – This is a product I have received quite a few times in beauty boxes before but have never repurchased the full size. I really like the texture this product gives my hair for an effortless style. I love this product but I’m not convinced on the price when I can get a high street equivalent for a fraction of the price. This size is great for your handbag or travel though, so I might save this for a holiday.
I was really impressed with the contents of my box last month. Birchbox reverted back to the original kraft box in March to celebrate hitting 100,000 subscribers in the UK. Other products available last month include the Korres Santorini Shower Gel, Batiste Dry 2in1 Invisible Dry Shampoo & Conditioner and the Bobbi Brown face masks.
As a little extra I added the promotion code MANI at the checkout and received a full size Smith & Cult Nail Polish. I have never tried anything from this brand before, so I’m excited to give it a go the next time I give myself a manicure or maybe a pedicure.
This month's box is a collaboration with Boden and the box is so pretty! I’m not saying I will keep my subscription every month, but it is nice to receive one every so often.

Which product is your favourite from last months Birchbox?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

BENEFIT AIR PATROL BB CREAM EYELID PRIMER

Benefit are known for their quirky packaging and individual products. Air Patrol is their newest product to the range which is an eye primer. I normally use the Urban Decay Primer Potion to prime my eyes or currently I'm using the Soap & Glory It's About Prime, but the Benefit version is a little different. It contains an SPF 20 which helps guard your delicate eyelids against the sun, smoke and pollutants. I normally like to apply a concealer and an eyeshadow primer before applying eyeshadow on top, but this is like two products in one and means I can miss a step in my routine. The BB Cream hides any blue veins or redness around your eyes and you could even use it under your eyes to hide dark circles. It also helps to extend the wear of eyeshadow and doesn’t crease or fade throughout the day. The product actually makes my eyeshadow appear more pigmented and this colour stays around all day.

You use the product by clicking the bottom of the pen and the formula appears on the silicone tip at the top. The cushion tip is pressure free which means it’s softer than your finger so you protect the thin skin around your eye to prevent wrinkles and fine lines. You then massage the formulation onto the eyelid and evenly blend. If you’re not using eyeshadow you can still use Air Patrol alone as the shade gives a natural-looking colour correction on all skintones. This actually works with my pale natural tone but I’m not sure if it will work on darker skin tones as well. I don't feel like I have to touch up my eyeshadow when using Air Patrol and I don't have to smooth out any creasing during the day like I normally do. The formula is quite light on the eyes and gives your skin a satin finish.

I have found with continual use that my eye area is hydrated, I have dry eyes but this product doesn’t seem to irritate them at all. I haven't really come across a product like this, which protects your eyes from sun damage, normally it's lip products which get more care. I guess it's not a necessity, but it's a nice product to use especially in the Summer months.

I actually purchased this product from Birchbox for £1.50 as I had £20.00 worth of Birchbox points to spend. I thought it was the ideal opportunity to try a new product from Benefit. I’m not sure how long this product will last but you do only need a tiny amount per eye. I'm not sure I would run out and repurchase it if I ran out, but it's a nice little extra product to add to my make-up bag. I think this product is probably more suited to women older than Benefit's normal target market because of the smoothing benefits, but we've all got to take care of our eyes!

Have you tried Benefit's new innovation?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

MAKE A SPLASH - JULY BIRCHBOX 2015

This month’s Birchbox was a complete surprise as it didn’t arrive in the normal box form, for the first time ever they have replaced the classic box with a super cute, splash-proof clutch. Birchbox has worked with editors from some of the most elite magazines in the UK, which has inspired the colours of the bags. I received the yellow Birchbag, which was chosen by Rose Beer from Grazia and her favourite holiday place of Somerset, which is her hometown and is now where she spends most of her summers. I will definitely be taken this zipped bag away on holiday with me as it’s perfect for all my poolside essentials.

Cowshed Cow Pat Hand Cream 50ml, £8.00 – When I normally see a hand cream in a beauty box I'm not really that bothered as I have so many, but this Cowshed one really interested me. This nourishing lotion is packed full of rejuvenating essential oils including grapefruit to uplift and coriander to soothe. It's full of shea and cocoa butters so it leaves the hands feeling really moisturised and toned, it’s even nice to massage into cuticles when you need a little hydration. I love the scent and it doesn't feel greasy at all on the skin.

Balance Me Congested Skin Serum 7ml sample, full-size £16.00 – This is exactly what I needed this month! This little skin saviour helps restore balance to the skin, as well as soothing breakouts. The formula contains chamomile, lavender and aloe vera so it’s really gentle but works wonders. I'm most likely to apply this before my evening moisturiser so my skin can rest over night.

Unani Aloe Vera Gel 30ml sample, full-size £15.00 – This is the perfect product to use after a day in the sun, as it can calm down any sore, red areas. It’s packed full of aloe vera which is cooling on the skin and helps to nourish and help with peeling too. It also works on blemishes, eczema and bites, it feels lovely on the skin and absorbs really quickly.

Pop Beauty Eyeshadow Trio in Peach Parfait, full-size £15.50 - I was really surprised how pretty these peachy shadows are. I have received Pop Beauty make-up before and know they are an affordable brand and I didn't really expect much from this palette. The shadows are very wearable colours and feel really silky and creamy when applied to the skin. I can see myself getting a lot of use out of this trio and it’s the perfect size to fit into my make-up bag.

Benefit Cosmetics Dream Screen 6ml sample, full-size £25.00 – I have really been enjoying Benefit skincare recently, but haven't tried Dream Screen before. This is an ultra-lightweight, matte-finish sunscreen, which absorbs quickly and protects against the sun with an SPF 45. It's oil free and perfect for layering underneath makeup. Another product I will definitely be taking on holiday with me and it’s the ideal size to put in your hand luggage for on the go.

Barely Prep, Blot & Blend Sponge, £5.99 - This is a bonus beauty extra this month, I've used a makeup sponge before, but this blending sponge is to smooth on your skincare and primers to prep your skin for makeup. You squeeze with warm water like you normally would with a beauty blender, then apply product and blend onto skin using a stippling motion. It's great for those hard to reach places or I like to use it with my eye cream.

July's edition has to be one of my favourite Birchboxes to date, my favourite product in the box is the Benefit Dream Screen! What was your favourite product from this month's box?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

WOMEN'S HEALTH BIRCHBOX - JANUARY 2015

This month Birchbox have teamed up with Women’s Health to create a box specially designed for the New Year. I have tried to up my game in the fitness department recently, so this was a perfect box to receive through my door in January. The box brings both products and content that will help start the year with your best foot forward. I have to admit this is probably one of my favourite collaborations recently, I think they have got the products and the box design/content spot on!

Activbod Cooling Finish Lotion, full-size 100ml £12.00 – This isn't a brand I have heard of before, but I have seen that they are now available in Boots. This product is designed to cool you down after your workout, it’s packed with menthol so it instantly delivers a cooling sensation to the skin. The formula also contains Vitamin E which helps to moisturise as well as repair dry skin. The scent is really nice and uplifting, it contains zesty pepper, eucalyptus and lemon which is reinvigorating as well. I really like products like this to use after going to the gym, I use a similar one from Nip and Fab and mainly like to use it on my legs to relax the muscles.

Healgel Intensive, full-size 30ml £37.50 – I have wanted to try something from this brand for ages, it’s always appealed to me but the price has always held be back. Healgel products are created by a team of leading British plastic and cosmetic surgeons. Healgel Intensive is a multipurpose, skin rescue gel. It contains, organic silicone, collagen-boosting hexapeptides and arnica restore and protects your skin in areas where it’s most needed. I found the cream to be really lightweight, cooling and absorbed quickly into my skin. It can also be used as a make-up primer.

Philip Kingsley Body Building Conditioner, full-size 250ml £19.00 – I am a big fan of Philip Kingsley hair care. This conditioner is enhanced with Keratin proteins and natural cellulose which is used to improve the hair’s strength and condition as well as thickening the appearance of every strand. I really like to receive hair mini's in beauty boxes, this formula is perfect for adding volume and shine to flyaway locks.

Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask, full-size 50ml £30.00 – I have received so many minis of this that I have never had to buy the full-size of it yet. I love Ren skincare and their masks are some of my favourite! This mask is designed to get rid of dead skin cells to renew the complexion and remove impurities. It contains natural fruit extracts and papaya extracts help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and smooth the skin’s surface. I like to leave this mask on for ten minutes and wipe away with a damp cloth, it’s nice to use as a mid-week pick me up!

Stila Lip Glaze, 2.4ml £15.00 – I don't think I have tried a product from Stila which I haven't liked. I really like that we received a full-size lip product. I’m not a big fan of the twist click pen applicator as I don't find it very easy to apply and end up using too much product, plus it’s not very hygienic. I received the shade Gleam, which is a sparkly pink toned hue which applies sheer for a wash of colour on the lips. The lip glazes also contains Vitamin A, C and E which keeps lips from drying out.

The lifestyle product that came with the box was an exclusive bright pink pilates resistance band, which also came with tips and exercises on how to use it. I have really enjoyed incorporating this into my current exercise routine, it's perfect for toning, improving your strength and muscle endurance. The box also offered us an exclusive subscription offer! It didn't make me want to subscribe to Women’s Health, but it certainly made me go and buy the current magazine. We also received a sachet of Embrace Matcha Green Tea which contains 10 times the antioxidants of regular green tea, I'm looking forward to trying it!

Are you subscribed to Birchbox?

you can also find me on twitter, instagram, bloglovin or pinterest

HAPPY DAYS BIRCHBOX - SEPTEMBER 2014

This month's Birchbox is themed around the back to school season and reminiscing about the happiest days of out lives. The products in this month's box celebrate capturing these moments and making new ones. Inside there are products that will help you look your best during your happiest days.

Benefit It's Potent Eye Cream, full-size 14.2g £25.50 - This is an eye cream that I have used samples of before, really enjoyed it, but never purchased the full-size. The formula is really creamy, but still lightweight and I like that it comes in a pot. It's really refreshing around the eye and seems to reduce dark circles. It helps to smooth fine lines and protect against free radicals with this light peptide-packed formula.

Korres Citrus Body Milk, full-size 200ml £9.50 - Korres is a brand I always have a look at when I go down the beauty aisle at Waitrose. I have tried a couple of their moisturisers and lip products. The body milks are lightweight, so it's better to use this in the summer months. I like to use this out of the shower and you can layer up the scents by using the matching shower gel. It contains almond oil and shea butter and is great for dry skin.

Model Co Lip Lacquer in Morocco, full-size 3ml £15.oo - This month everybody got to choose one product they would receive. The choice was out of the Model Co Lip Lacquer in Morocco or Viva or the Model Co Powerlash Mascara. I chose the Lip Lacquer in Morocco which is a lovely nude pink. I haven't tried many products from Model Co before, but the Lip Lacquer is long wearing and highly pigmented. The formula isn't sticky at all, they're hydrating on the lips and I really like the glossy finish. This is one of my favourite discoveries this month.

Premae Mild Dermabrasion Face & Body Scrub, full-size 100ml £25.00 - Premae is a brand I have only used from beauty boxes before. The brand is well known for their Vegan values. This product is a face and body scrub containing olive granules. This is great for blemishes, decongested pores and dull skin. I do get worried about using a scrub on my face which is also suitable for the body, but this isn't harsh at all and my skin is always super soft afterwards. This is also great for use after tanning and hair removal.

Agave Healing Oil Treatment, full-size 120ml £27.00 - Not a brand I have heard of before, but this lightweight oil helps to smooth hair, build resiliency and boost shine and colour. You can use this or dry or damp hair from roots to ends and I love the coconut scent. I would definitely be interested in purchasing the full-size of this.

The lifestyle choices this month were a Birchbox Happy Days photo clip, which went with the theme of the box. They also included Urban Fruit Smashing Strawberry, which are so yummy, I'm going to have to try the other flavours. I'm now off to redeem some Birchbox points in the e-shop against my favourite full-sized products.

Are you subscribed to Birchbox?

BIRCHBOX UK - AWAY WE GO! AUGUST 2014

This Month's Birchbox is all about Summer Getaways! The box introduces make-up, skincare and haircare essentials, as well as easy to use products that are compact and don't need tools. The box also contains travel hacks, holiday tick lists, an easy hair tutorial and cute luggage tags to get you ready for your dream destination!
Number 4 Super Comb Prep & Protect, 200ml £20.00 – This product is a leave in conditioning spray which detangles and protects against heat and sun damage. I’ve never heard of this brand but I like using these kinds of products on damp hair before styling. If you have dry or damaged hair this product is great at strengthening,  repairing, detangling, taming flyaways, nourishing and protecting. The scent is lovely but quite sweet in the hair.

Wild About Beauty Crème Eyeshadow, 1.75g £13.00 – I have used this brand before from another beauty box. It’s a long-lasting, high quality, satin finish shadow from Louise Redknapp and Kim Jacob’s paraben-free range. I like to use crème eyeshadows as a base, they’re easy to apply and blend out with your fingers. The shade I have is 03 Buster, a lovely coppery bronze.

Nude Progenius Omega Treatment Oil, 30ml £58.00 – I have always wanted to try this oil, but have been put off by the price. This nourishing oil is rich in omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9 for hydrated, smooth skin. I like to apply this after cleansing and before moisturising in the evenings. This product claims to transform your skin and reduce the signs of ageing. Having not tried this brand before I was excited to see it in this months box, I’ve been impressed with the results so far, it left my skin hydrated and smooth.

Vasanti Britenup! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator, 120ml £26.00 – Another brand I haven’t heard of, but I’m excited to use. This product is a multi-action exfoliator to ensure a renewed, refreshed complexion. It’s great at improving your skin’s texture, my skin is softer and brighter after use. It also gently cleanses with aloe vera, coconut and panternol and it smells lovely. It's packed with exfoliating beads, so it really does revitalise the skin.

Supergoop! Daily Correct SPF 35 CC Cream, 47ml £32.00 – I was excited to see a CC Cream in the box this month, it adjusts to your natural shade, contains an SPF to smooth fine lines and even out skin tone. We received two 3ml travel sized samples in light/medium which I think was very generous of Birchbox. The CC Cream gives a light coverage but can be layered up for extra coverage. The formula is lightweight and fragrance free and acts as both a primer and a foundation in one. It contains 100% natural ingredients and light-diffusing mica minerals that soften the appearance of pores and wrinkles.

This month all the products came in a cute carry-on bag for your liquids. I will definitely be using this on plane journeys in the future. It’s great for storing all of your beauty essentials and this month’s box even came with a chapter one of the book, The Proposal by Tasmina Perry, which I think is a great idea! 

Are you subscribed to Birchbox?

LAQA & CO SHEER LIP LUBE PENCILS - MENATOUR AND BEES KNEES

Birchbox have introduced Birchbloggers which gives subscribers and bloggers the chance to test and review new products. July's Birchbox introduced the brand Laqa & Co to me, which is a New York based cosmetic brand. I received the Sheer Lip Lube Pencil in Bees Knees which I couldn't get enough of and have enjoyed wearing for everyday wear. Birchbox then emailed me saying they were looking for 10 Birchbloggers to style two make-up looks using the pencils. I tweeted them and was one of the lucky bloggers. You can join Birchbloggers on their website, here.

I received two of the five shades; Bees Knees* and Menatour*. Bees Knees is a lovely soft coral, great for everyday and Menatour is a vivid purple which is a little more daring and would look great for evenings. The lip lubes are moisturising on the lips, give great colour pay off and have a nice minty scent. The colours look really glossy and my lips feel hydrated and nourished hours after applying. My lip crayon collection has grown over recent months and these have definitely become a firm favourite, the peppermint-shea butter formula also relieves dry lips with it's creamy texture. They are easy to use as they just glide on and you don't even need a mirror to apply, so they are great for on-to-go and touch ups through-out the day. I'm not sure why these pencils are called sheer lip lubes as I find the colours really bold and pigmented and super long wearing on the lips.

I also love the packaging, each box has a different up and coming artist's work on it, which I find so creative and different to competitors packaging. The only thing that annoys me is that the shade name is not anywhere to be seen on the lip tubes themselves. See my looks below, I have been wearing Bees Knees everyday for work with a matching peach blush and then changing it up in the evenings with Menatour and smoking the eyes out a little more with purple shadows.

Other make-up I am wearing - Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer, YSL Fushion Foundation in B10, Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer in Light, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light 2, Soap & Glory Kick Ass Pressed Powder, Mac Omega and Soba Eyeshadow on Brows, Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium, Nars Gina Blusher, Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Nars Fairy's Kiss Eye Shadow Palette and Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara.

Have you tried any Laqa & Co products?

*PR Samples

BIRCHBOX JUNE 2014 - GLOBAL STRIKERS

I am still quite new to Birchbox, but I have really been enjoying what their boxes have to offer. June's box was based around the World Cup, but still keeping it girly of course. I love the Brazil inspired colours of the packaging. I’m not a big football fan, but the products inside can be from any of the countries competing, which I think is a nice touch. I subscribed to Birchbox when they had an offer, so I only pay £10 a month for four products instead of the normal £12.95 price for five products plus a lifestyle product.

BeautyBlender and BlenderCleanser Solid, £26.00 – I was very excited to see this beauty tool in the box. I have always wanted to try this but have been put off by the price and instead have tried out dupes like the cosmopolitan and real techniques cheaper versions. This is great to buff in base products including foundations, BB creams and concealers. You use it by wetting it first and squeezing out the water. It’s great at getting to the hard to reach places and smaller areas brushes might not cover. It also comes with a cleanser which means you can use the blender over and over again and it goes back to its normal shape. I still like to use my brushes but I find this is great for putting on concealer around the eye area.

OPI Nail polish, Sets from £14.50 – Following the theme of the World Cup, OPI have introduced a Brazil collection featuring many vivid hues inspired by tropical rain forests and warm sandy beaches. I received a sample of the shade ‘I'm Brazil Nuts Over You’ a bright summery, chilli pink. I love the formulation of OPI polishes, these mini bottles are so cute!

Caudalie Divine Oil from £18.00 – This is a product I have used before and loved. I find this oil really moisturising and the scent is lovely, it sinks in really fast and a little goes a long way. It can be used on the body, face, nails and hair so it is a great multi-use product. I have also used the scrub and candle in the range which also have heavenly scents. Also a great sized sample, but not so great for travelling because of the glass bottle.

Coola Classic Face SPF 30, £26.00 – Day to day I do admit I don’t go out of my way to apply SPF. I normally rely on SPF in foundation and use face SPF when on holiday or when the weather ever cheers up. As I have fair skin I do worry about being in the sun for too long, so this is a handy sample to have for travelling or to have in my handbag. It leaves no white residue and has a lovely, refreshing cucumber scent.

I had also earnt £10.00 worth of points by reviewing my past boxes so was able to redeem these in the Birchbox shop. I chose to buy one of the new Benefit lip balms in Posiebalm, so it only cost me £4.50. Another way Birchbox lets you try new products at a bargain price. I've really been enjoying this product this month.