Birchbox May 2014

Processed with VSCOcam with t1 preset Last May I signed up for Birchbox thinking "I'll just treat myself to a couple...", twelve months down the line and I'm a loyal subscriber with a stash of cute cardboard boxes under my bed, a dressing table full of minis, and a fellow addict for a mother. Whoops. We've had our ups and downs, some boxes weren't as impressive as others, some products a bit disappointing, but never anything enough to push me in the direction of the unsubscribe button. All in all my Birchboxes have contained generous amounts of decently sized products from some increasingly larger and better brands. This months' box however, completely blew me away. Okay, a Harper's Bazaar collab box had to be good I know. But boy oh boy this box was something else...

First up the UK's bestselling mascara. A product I've been eyeing up for years, but that could never quite tempt me from my love for L'Oreal's Volume Million Lashes. Benefit's They're Real Mascara does everything that it says on the tin, volume, length, last, the lot. I have to say I don't think I quite love this enough to name it my new favourite mascara (which I'm rather glad of because this doesn't come cheap!), however it is definitely up there. This mini size is perfect for travelling and normally retails for £10 in Boots - making it a very generous inclusion on Birchbox's behalf! A second incredibly generous addition to May's box came in the form of a full sized Soigne Nail Lacquer in Persimmon. This polish is bang on trend for the season's penchant for a red/orange nail and has exceptional last and application. For an extra burst of energy in the morning I've been turning to this adorably dinky bottle of Aromatherapy's Bath & Shower Oil. I love the sharp, herby scent of Aromatherapy's Revive Morning line, and a little goes a long way with this oil, making a full-size bottle a worthy investment.

The latest in Birchbox's own haircare line comes in the form of a shampoo and conditioner (hurrah!). I am a huge fan of the Beauty Protector Detangler and Hair Oil (they smell divine) so was super excited to see these included in my box. The Beauty Protector Protect & Shampoo and Protect & Condition have the same delicious smell and leave my hair feeling wonderfully soft after use. Without a doubt the crowning glory of May's box, Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser is a cult product within the beauty world, which you will no doubt have read 285638503 reviews of. Holding over 100 awards, and with one being sold every 23 seconds, you can kinda see why it's earned the beauty blogger's seal of approval. I am a huge fan of hot cloth cleansing, it's the perfect makeup removing/indulgent cleansing combo, and this generous sample size will be a worthy addition to my travel bag this summer.

This box was also accompanied by a very generous Harper's Bazaar subscription offer (which I will most definitely be taking advantage of) and a mini magazine packed with beauty tips and inspirations. Keep up this good work Birchbox and I certainly won't be subscribing anytime soon.

To read my review of last month's Birchbox click here, and if you fancy subscribing to Birchbox (there's still time to get May's box!), sign up via this link to receive an exclusive £5 to spend in the Birchbox online store.

Let me know in the comments below what you thought of the goodies inside May's box, and to stay updated on future posts and reviews you can follow me on TwitterInstagram, and Bloglovin. Also, a massive thank you for your nominations for the Company Style Bloggers Awards. I made it through(!), and it would mean the world to me if you could spare a minute to vote for That Grace Girl in the Best Designed Blog category.