Birchbox November 2014

I know I've been away forever! Real life & work & family got in the way! But I'm back & much more organized so I'll be blogging everyday!

This months them was "Cozy at home" & I'm not sure some of the products really match that theme! I do think that the sample sizes this month were really generous though! Mine contained 2 full sized items & 3 good sized samples! (& a lifestyle sample I'm a bit meh! about.)

So just in case you didn't know, Birchbox is a subscription service that costs £10 +£2.95 postage & every month they send you products to try out. Everything inside the box can be bought from the birchbox shop, but I'll also link if I know somewhere else that sells them. I like it because its a great way to try things you may of never bought yourself. That is also the reason why I don't like it sometimes. I don't wear nail varnish, no matter how many I'm sent, I'm still not gonna wear nail varnish! Which leads us nicely into the first item!

OPI Coca-Cola Red Nail Polish £11.95

This is part of the limited edition Coca-Cola collection & is a beautiful red! If I wore nail varnish, this is the colour I'd always wear! Its iconic, classic & perfect for every occasion! I just hate nail varnish! (On me! On other people I love it & wish it looked like that on my nails)

Available from Selfridges in all the colours from the collection

Beauty Protector - Protect & Treat Hair Mask

This mask is meant to rejuvenate & protect you hair with argan oil, honey, amber & crushed pearls. I've had a couple of things from beauty protector before & haven't really formed an opinion on them. The shampoo & conditioner wasn't great but it wasn't bad either! I'm hoping this will be really good though because my hair has been really dry recently! This appears to only be available via birchbox at the moment.

Dr. Jart + V7 Vita Drop £26

This is described as "hydration in a tube" I'm not convinced yet! You're meant to use this after your serum in place of moisurizer. It apparently is a "special emulsion containing vitamins" that transform into water drops on contact with the skin. I've tried it a couple of times & I would not say that it "transforms into water drops" it's a gel. It stays a gel. It's kinda moisturizing but I won't be purchasing if it runs out! If you want to try it BeautyBay stock it for £23.25

Weleda Almond Soothing Facial Oil

This is a multi use product that I'm sure I'll use up! It has a blend of almond & plum kernel oils to keep the skin soft & supple. It can also be used sparingly in your hair or to remove eye makeup.

Ocado (the online supermarket) currently have this on sale for £6.90! More than half the price I've seen it anywhere else! Its going back up on 2nd December so if you're interested I suggest getting it from there  soon!

Lord & Berry Mini Bronzer in Sunny

This is one of the items I don't understand for "cozy at home" my definition of being cozy at home is makeup off, pajamas on, feet up. Why would I have bronzer on in that scenario? 

Despite my annoyance that it doesn't fit in with the theme, I do think its a good contour powder. It's a super finely milled matte powder that I thought would be too orange to start. But as you can see from my swatch it's just 2-3 shades darker than my skin tone! & it's dinky little size is perfect for travel!

The full size is available from look fantastic

& the lifestyle extra this month was:

Drinkwel Capsules

These are vegitarian multivitamins to help you recover after a night out drinking. You take 3 with food before you go out & 3 with water once you're home. I like the idea of these, but because i hate hangovers & being sick, I'm a careful drinker. I always eat before (I'm such a lightweight otherwise), there is a point I get to after tipsy but before drunk (its a fine line but I'm good at realising I'm there now) where I stop drinking alcohol (sometimes I'll move onto water, others I'll just stop drinking) & I always drink a glass of water before bed. If I know I'm going out I'll put a bottle of water on my bedside table before I leave so I don't have to remember to get a glass when I get in. 

Back to these capsules though, I do think they'd have been better in next months box, to help with all the christmas parties or to be saved for new year!

What did you get in your birchbox this month? Are there any other subscription services you think I should join?

xxx

Birchbox October 2014

I really think I may cancel my subscription to both birchbox & glossybox. I've have them both for nearly 2 years & I'm just not sure they're doing anything for me anymore! But on to what I got this month & more on why I'm thinking about cancelling.

The theme of this months box is breast cancer & "coppafeel". 9 years ago (almost to the day) my mum was diagnosed with  breast cancer. She has been very lucky & because it was caught early & she responded well to the chemo my mum is fine now. Unfortunately I did lose a great friend & boss from this awful disease 2 years ago because she did not catch it soon enough & it spread to other parts of her body. It's because this, that I think its great, that big companies are urging you to check yourself out & go to your doctor if you think anything is wrong.

This month instead of the usual drawstring pouch they gave us a little pink makeup pouch. Its not very well made, the makeup bags I make are of much better quality.

Inside I received: -
*2 Cattier pink clay face masks £4.25 - It says its suitable for sensitive skin, is packed full of aloe vera to illuminate & soften your skin. I have really sensitive skin so I'm not to sure if i'll be trying these or not.

*KMS California hair play dry wax £15 - I'm really bad when it comes to my hair & usually just wash, condition, sleep on it wet, hope it looks good! & 9 times out of 10 its fine. If I do decide to use this it will apparently add easy to style 2nd day texture to my hair

*Shaveworks cool fix £11 - This cooling gel lotion treat ingrown hairs, razor bumps & redness after hair removal. I currently use one of these by a different brand that I can't remember, but the solution is green, so i'll probably keep this for travel.

*Pixi by Petra shea butter lip balm £8 - I love the Pixi skincare & this is now a new favorite! Its a nourishing lip balm packed with shea butter & a hint of colour. I got a rather boring brown/neutral colour, but that's ok the smell & hydration makes up for it.

*Meaningful Beauty glowing serum £30.95 - This will probably go to my mum. I currently have no need for an anti-ageing serum, even if this is from cindy crawford.

So that was this months box. Out of everything there, I'll probably only use 1 thing, which is cheap enough that I could of bought it on its own! I'll probably keep my subscription till January because then I've had it 2 years & given it a proper go.

Do you subscribe to birchbox or any other beauty subscription? Are you enjoying them?

xxxx

Birchbox June 2014

Happy July! I wanted to get these up sooner but I've been away! I was in london for a week & more recently I came to visit family for my sisters 18th birthday! I figured I should get this up before the July box arrives on my doorstep! (My boxes actually get delivered to work because I'm never home & the neighbours hate up!) Now on with the review!

This month Birchbox had a kinda world cup theme, with products from different countries, which I think was a good idea! We play with our Birchbox goodies while the boys are watching the football! (My partner loves football & has had to watch every. single. match!)

The Birchbox comes in its usual brown kraft cardboard looking box, nothing special there!

OPI Nail Lacquer - The Brazil Collection £11.95

I'm not a nail varnish fan! I like that it was a good quality nail varnish & this does live up to opi's usual standards! It's from there new Brazil collection. This a funny purple & green iridescent colour! It was apparently inspired by the tropical rainforests of Brazil.

Yves Rocher Sheer Botanical Lipstick £9.90

This is a new product from Yves Rocher & is a Sheer Botanica Lipstick & Birchbox described it as "A sheer, glossy lipstick infused with moisturising cherry oil to leave lips lusciously soft." The cherry oil makes this smell delicious! I just want to eat it! It does leave lips glossy & moisturised but the problem I have with this, is that there is no colour payoff! I kinda feel like this should be marketed as a lip balm, because if I bought this as a lipstick I'd be very disappointed!

Silk + Honey Shea Butter Hair Mask £55 full DIY set

I haven't tried this yet, I've not yet found a hair mask that does something to my hair! Plus I'm worried that if this does do something I'm gonna have to shell out £55 in order to get it! It's meant to nourish, protect & soften hair. I'll keep you posted as to if I try it & whether I like it!

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion £14

The is an organic body lotion with shea butter, olive & avocado oils to soften skin, it has a lemon scent which I love! I would describe it as a thick milk? You know what I mean? I do like this body lotion but I'm not sure I'd pay £14!

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre from £12.99

This is a cult French favourite! Its a moisturiser that soothes skin & has all natural ingredients. You can use it has a moisturiser, as a hydrating mask or apply to burns & irritations to sooth. I find it really similar to Elizabeth Ardens 8 hour cream!

And finally, I got a Birchbox flip-flop key ring as an extra. I kinda wish they had used the money it cost to make these on something else! Not needed or wanted in my opinion!

Let me know what you got in your June Birchbox (or July if you've received that already! I love spoilers!) & I'll speak to you all soon!

Louise X