Birchbox July 2013
I was pleasantly surprised on Monday by the arrival of my July Birchbox. Last months box took a good three weeks to arrive but I'm guessing this was due to the admin surrounding being a new subscriber. (Full marks for delivery this month Birchbox, although a dispatch email would be nice!) The theme for this months box is 'Jet Setting', very appropriate to the time of year, and the products are all perfectly sized for hand luggage packing.
This month I received five beauty samples and a lifestyle product. These included a day cream, facial cleanser (yay), blush, foundation, and hand cream. I was really pleased as these are all products I will definitely use and will be perfect when I go on my travels in August. The lifestyle product I received was a 'Chia Shot', an Omega 3 packed superfood which can be added to everything from stir-frys to smoothies. This was probably my least favourite product as it isn't really something I would ever buy and I would have preferred something I could get more than one use from.
My favourite addition was undoubtedly the mini blush by theBalm (InStain Long Wearing Powder Staining Blush). It's so small and cute, a perfect handbag carry. The packaging is styled like a vintage fashion magazine and opens up like a little book. My sample came in the shade 'Swiss Dot', a lovely peachy pink, probably the colour I would have picked out for myself. Although the sample is absolutely minuscule, I'm sold by the cuteness!
I was also really pleased to get a facial cleanser. This one by Dead Sea Spa Magik (Gentle Cleansing Facial Wash) comes in a really good sized sample, I'll definitely be saving it for my travels! I've heard a lot of good things about this brand and as a full-size version of this product retails at £8.80 its definitely something I would look into buying if it works well.
At the other end of the price scale sits the Blanc Cachemire day cream (or Creme De Jour Protectrice if you're feeling French). This high-end French moisturiser retails at £54.75, (not very student friendly!) so I will be using this sample wisely and frugally! The formula is really rich and thick but still sinks straight into my skin, perfect for under foundation. A little smaller than the cleanser sample but still a good size for travelling.
Speaking of foundation, the fourth sample is a very well-sized pot of RMK Creamy Foundation. I've heard a lot of good things about this brand, founded in New York by a Japanese makeup artist, its products are bestsellers throughout Japan and South Asia. I'm really looking forward to trying this product, the shade looks pretty much perfect for me and I still can't get over how generously sized it is!
The final product was a little tube of hand cream by VitaBella. It promises to be non-greasy and easily absorbed so I have high hopes for this product. I really can't stand a sticky hand cream. At 8.5ml this is a pretty small sample but will be great for use in-flight.
Once again I am really pleased with my Birchbox, and will definitely be continuing my subscription. A point I neglected to note last month is that Birchbox have a rewards system. You receive points for buying the Birchbox each month and points for completing the mini surveys for the products you receive. When you have 100 points you get £10 to spend in the Birchbox shop on full-size versions of the products from previous months boxes. Bearing in mind that I've only bought two boxes, I'm already on 92 points, making this a pretty decent reward system!
http://www.bloglovin.com/feed/blog/7320597