Hey Everyone,
Of course, I’m back with another Birchbox review! I really love writing these posts as it gives me a chance to zone out and talk about beauty products which is my favourite thing to do! I’ve been subscribed to Birchbox for such a long time that opening and reviewing their boxes is just part of my routine now! Are any of you subscribed to a beauty box? As usual, I’ve included lots of information below about what Birchbox offers etc. but if you’re just here for the review, keep scrolling!
Birchbox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or any contracts, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month! You can edit your beauty profile on their site in order to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is so great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for over a year now and I look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve received because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. I use some of the older boxes to store makeup in too as the designs are too pretty to throw away!
This month’s box is in collaboration with Etsy, the wonderful online marketplace for the creative community. I absolutely love buying my art supplies from Etsy, there’s such a vast range of things available and there’s something for every occasion! If you haven’t checked them out before, you’re missing out! Birchbox decided to feature ten Etsy sellers to create a selection of box designs for subscribers to receive. One of my favourite aspects of the makeup world is the packaging and I love when brands push the limits and create beautiful looking products. The box that I received was created by The Lovely Drawer (@thelovelydrawer) and it features a beautiful eye-catching pattern. I love the combination of colours, it’s definitely a keeper!
Dirty Little Secret – Eye Shadow Crayon – Fetch (full size) – RRP £10.50
I’ve actually tried out one of the Dirty Little Secret Lipsticks before and I really liked it so I recognised that polkadot pattern on the packaging straight away! I love cream shadows so a crayon is right up my street. I chose the shade “Fetch” as I tend to wear pinky-champagne style shimmer shades most of the time as I find them to be the most flattering on me! The great thing about crayon shadows is how easy they are to apply – one swipe and you’re good to go. I find that the creamier the product, the easier it is to blend, especially compared to powders, which comes in handy on those super busy mornings. My dad’s always referred to my makeup as “slap” (he has a way with words, right?) and for once it’s true, you could probably slap this crayon on and you’d come off looking great. I love that this product is multi-purpose as I’ve been using it as a highlighter too! It lasts ages and doesn’t crease whatsoever (one of my pet peeves).
CLĒ Cosmetics – Melting Lip Powder – Red Cherry (sample) – RRP £15
I’m all for original thinking and innovative ideas but this just seems a bit unnecessary to me. I put powder on my eyes, on my cheeks, on my brows but on my lips?! It’s a no from me. I just can’t see why I would opt for this when I could easily go for my usual lipstick formula that I know isn’t messy. The idea behind this product is that it melts from a powder into a matte lip tint. It’s waterproof, smudge-proof and it’s full of Vitamin E to keep your lips hydrated. It sounded great to me until I swatched it. The powder clumped up into little balls making it not only difficult to blend out but difficult to imagine on my lips. Don’t get me wrong, I am open minded about every product that I try, so I went into this hoping for the best, however it just didn’t work for me. It looked patchy and lumpy! After that experience, I certainly wouldn’t pay £15 for it.
Dr. Botanicals – Pomegranate Superfood (full size) – RRP £14.90
Most of us have seen some of the Dr Botanicals products floating around our Instagram feeds. If you haven’t heard of them, they’re a fantastic skincare brand that sell some of my favourite face masks! Whenever I’m trying to tackle spots and blemishes, I usually use a drying treatment which leaves my skin feeling like the Sahara desert – you can’t win can you? I use this mask whenever my skin needs a moisture boost and it works so well for me. It’s actually an overnight mask, so you can apply it before bed and whilst you sleep, it gets to work! I love the idea that there is minimal effort required. Sometimes when I apply a face mask, I’m already dreading the lengthy washing-off process, but this mask doesn’t require any effort until you wake up and even then it’s so quick and easy to remove. In fact, my skin usually absorbs every last drop so I rarely have anything to scrub off anyway! It’s so hydrating and refreshing, my skin completely transforms overnight. If I need my makeup to go particularly well, I always use this the night before as it prepares my skin perfectly! 10/10 would recommend!
Luseta Beauty – Keratin Smooth Conditioner (sample) – RRP £19
I’m awful with heat protection for my hair. I straighten my hair a lot and I occasionally remember to spray some protectant however it’s just so easy forget! I love that this nourishing conditioner can easily become part of my haircare routine. It repairs and strengthens damaged hair and it only takes a couple of minutes for it to get to work! I use this straight after shampooing my hair and I leave it to sit for a while before rinsing it off. My hair feels so soft and silky afterwards – I love it! I’m definitely going to invest in the full sized version of this product.
Rituals – Happy Buddha Foaming Shower Gel – RRP £8.50
I’ve heard so much about Rituals however I had never tried any of their products until I received this one! I love foaming products for the shower as it just makes life so much easier and it leaves my skin feeling so squeaky clean and soft. This shower gel is fragranced with sweet orange and cedar wood which smells SO GOOD! It takes minimal effort for the gel to transform into a foam so don’t worry about standing there and trying to work it into a lather for ages. I will probably be purchasing the full sized version of this product too! I can see myself using this every day, as I love the scent and the way it makes my skin feel.
I really liked this box! I think it was great value for money and I will use most of the products on a regular basis. Yes, the lip powder isn’t for me, however when I subscribed to Birchbox, I knew I wouldn’t always receive products that I loved! If it was a whole box of products that I disliked, I’d be less lenient but one or two every now and again is fine with me. The products inside the August box, together, are worth a whopping £67.90 and considering that the subscription costs £10 plus £2.95 P&P per month, that’s such good value. I never feel like Birchbox are being stingy when it comes to products, which is why I’m still subscribed years later! Are you subscribed to any beauty boxes? Which is your favourite?
N xxxx
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*RRPs correspond to full-size items at birchbox.co.uk/shop
Image Credit – Netflix