May's Birchbox

This month’s Birchbox was a total delight. I love everything that came. Here’s a rundown of what was inside.

Miracle Skin Transformer™ Body SPF 20 It’s a tinted lotion that evens out imperfections all over your body. It works as a light moisturizer, SPF 20, and a skin-perfecting tint—curing roughness, hiding blemishes, and even masking scars. I was amazed when I put it on my freckly arms – they looked smooth, even, and glowing. I went a little crazy and used the whole sample-sized bottle in one day. It looked so nice though! I really need a full-size bottle – the stuff is amazing.

Birchbox Notecards
Everyone loves getting a handwritten note in the mail, especially on cute stationary. I’m excited to get to use the fun-colored notecard!

Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo
I love trying new hair products so this was exciting. From Birchbox: “We’re hesitant to call this luxurious cleansing oil a shampoo—its powers go far beyond cleansing. Perfect for all hair types and textures, the oil-to-foam formula binds with the grease and product buildup on your scalp before gently whisking them away. At the same time, it respects your hair’s natural oils, so your strands never feel dry or stripped. Finally, it adds bounce and body to your locks while leaving behind a calming yuzu citrus scent. All in all, it’s a true superhero product.”

I’ll tell you, it lathered nice, smelled good, and left my hair clean and light. However, I’m a thrifty gal, and at $55 for a full-size bottle, it’s a little out of my budget.

Dior Diorshow Extase
I rarely buy high-end makeup, so getting Dior mascara was a treat. I felt fancy just putting it on. It looked nice on, but I really can’t say it looked better than what I use every day. Since Dior is three times the price, I’ll stick with L’Oreal.

Dior Miss Dior
One of my favorite things about Birchbox is getting to try new fragrances. At first sniff, I thought Miss Dior was going to be too “old” for me, but I was pleasantly surprised when I put it on. It’s a sweet, chic and not-too-overpowering scent. I really love it and am sad my sample is almost gone already.

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April's Birchbox

This month's Birchbox was a well-rounded bundle of treats, including things from a hair mask to laundry detergent. Here's what I thought of the products.

Zoya TRUE Spring Collection nail polish in Lotus was a fun addition to the mix. Overall I like the amethyst color, but I probably could do without the bits of red, gold and pink shimmer. The purple looses it's sophistication, I think. It'll still make for a fun pedicure color.

A sample of Wonderstruck perfume by Taylor Swift also was included. At first sniff, I wasn't crazy over it's fruity, floral scent. And, I'm still not in love with it, but it has grown on me. I'll be honest, my favorite thing about it was its whimsically-printed packaging.

As a sufferer of dry hair, I was excited to try Amika's Obliphica Nourishing Mask. The recipe includes obliphica oils ("obliphica oil is a wonder ingredient rich in natural vitamins and omega acids that sink into each follicle") to help repair split ends and amp up shine. After one use, I can't say I noticed a big difference, but it smelled great, had a nice silky texture, and the promise of it sinking in (which my hair dresser says is a must for a product to actually repair damaged hair), gives me good reason to give it another chance.

Juice Beauty's Oil-Free Moisturizer was a great product. Even though I know I'd benefit from using a moisturizer, normally I don't because it clogs my pores (even when it claims it won't). I gave Juice's formula a try anyway, and was pleasantly surprised. I didn't wake up with a disgustingly greasy face! Actually, it looked fresh and felt soft. The difference in this moisturizer is that it's very lightweight and made with juice and botanicals instead of water, so every drop nourishes your skin.

Dropps Laundry Detergent was an unexpected addition to the box, but I like it! It's super handy because it's packaged in little squares, pre-measured and ready to drop in the washer. Also, it's eco-friendly and safe for all fabrics and colors. As far as performance, I'll try it on Jeff's filthy, concrete-dust-filled works clothes and let you know.

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March's Birchbox

It's pretty safe to say that this month's Birchbox is my favorite so far. I love everything that came in it. I can't even pick a favorite. Here's a breakdown of what came.

I've seen the Twistbands around the internet and never really understood them. But having one of my own now, I get their appeal -- they're adorable! It's really just a fancy hair tie, but they come in fun colors and are thick so they leave less of an ugly crease behind. Neat, huh?

I think my favorite item this month was tarte's LipSurgence lip tint. It's super moisturizing and the stain/gel formula goes on easy and lasts for hours.

I'm currently battling dry hair so I'm excited to have received a sample of Kérastase Elixir Ultime. I'm still a slave to Biosilk, but after how soft this left my hair, I may have to reconsider next time I need to buy hair oil.

I've been wanting to buy a glitter overcoat since the holidays, but could never decide on a color. This month Birchbox made up my mind for me and sent a bottle of essie Luxeffects nail polish in a cut above, a soft girly pink that's perfect for spring. I'm wearing it now and feel a little bit like a Barbie when I look at my hands. That's a good thing, I think.

And, last but not least, I also received a sample of Kate Spade's Twirl perfume. It's a fruity floral scent that's still sophisicated, but not overpowering. I don't know that it's something I would buy a full bottle of, but it's fun to have a sample to wear occasionally.

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My First Birchbox

I broke down and subscribed myself to Birchbox, a monthly delivery of sample-sized beauty products. It's so fun getting packages in the mail (even if you have them sent to yourself).

Here's what came this month.

Yogini perfume by Harvey Prince
At first I was unsure about this scent, but I put a little on and actually really like it. It's sophisticated, but sweet, and seems to last all day. It's calming, and full of exotic oils that are supposed to counteract stress. As the description says, "It’s the fragrance equivalent of yoga class."

Mythic Oil by L'Oréal Professional
I was really excited to try this hair oil because I have dry hair, especially in the winter. I normally use Biosilk or Aquage Silkening Oil Treatment, but am open to trying new things. This oil smells great, and can be used before or after blow drying. After two uses, I don't think it works better or worse than Biosilk or Aquage, but it wins for having the best scent.

Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss
I really like this silky lip gloss. It came in a bright pink, that with one coat gives you a pretty gloss, but with two or more, gives you bright pink, shiny lips. It's not too sticky like some glosses, but it doesn't seem to last long. To keep the look, you'd have to reapply often. Maybe it would be better used to add gloss to lipstick.

Befine Gentle Cleanser
This face wash is made from sugar cane, oats, rice and mint extracts - a nice combination to use for cleansing dry winter skin. It smells nice, but I'm not much for minty face washes. I think my mindset is that mint belongs in foot scrubs. It's really runny - not expecting that, I lost half the bottle down the drain ... so that was a bummer. It seems to cleanse well though, and it left my face feeling refreshed. Not too bad for something that belongs on feet (kidding ... kinda).

EBOOST Orange Natural Energy Booster
I mixed this up to give it a try and was very disapponted in the taste. Honestly, I couldn't even finish it. It's an orange-flavored, vitamin-filled, powdered energy drink, so I can't say I expected it to be delicious. I'll stick with coffee for my morning energy.

Showstoppers Designer Fashion Tape
I haven't used these yet - I'll save them for when I need a little strapless bra/dress help. I'll update after I use them.

I already can't wait for next month's Birchbox!

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Photos via Birchbox.