July 2015 Birchbox

This month, Birchbox collaborated with the wellness experts at Best Health magazine to create a box with products to help us have a happy, healthy summer.

The box features a customized design that is just as colourful as last month’s box (see the June box HERE).

The first three items in the box include a combination of makeup and skincare items.

Benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara is one of my current favourite mascaras. It leaves the lashes long and thick without any clumps.

For summer skin, the Gilchrist & Soames Spa Therapy Relaxing Sea Fennel Body Lotion moisturizes, smooths, softens, and calms with its paraben-free formula rich in marine extracts. This lotion is very moisturizing and it has a refreshing, ocean scent.

Next is the Vasanti Cosmetics BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvinator that mimics the effects of microdermabrasion for glowing, smooth skin. While I think that this product will give some people excellent results, I found it very irritating when I used a previous sample that I received a couple years ago in a different beauty box.



The last two items are for hair.

First is the Fekkai Technician Colour Care Shampoo that hydrates with plant proteins to maintain colour-treated hair. Although this product sounds promising, I have always been sceptical of Fekkai colour maintaining products since they often contain sulfates like this one.

Also for colour-treated hair is the Bain de Terre Argan Oil & Passion Flower Colour Therapy Styling Oil. This product nourishes hair with essential oils. It smells very nice but I try to avoid oils since they weigh down my fine hair.



Overall, I’m sad to say that I was a bit disappointed in this month’s Birchbox. While the mascara and body lotion were nice, I would have preferred to save the monthly box fee and put it toward a product that I will get a lot of use out of. I have decided to remain subscribed until the end of the summer and then start searching for a new beauty box to subscribe to in the fall. Any suggestions?

June 2015 Birchbox

This month’s Birchbox encompasses the excitement of summer with its adventure theme. This is the second month in a row that the box has had a custom design (check out the May box HERE) which is a nice surprise.

The first four items focus on skin and hair.

I love the scent of the Naobay Oxygenating Cream Moisturizer. It smells like a decadent lemon dessert. This product hydrates the skin with avocado and olive oils and 98% natural ingredients. It can be used on the face as a makeup base as well, but I plan to use it on my hands.

The product in this month’s box that I find most exciting is the Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo because it deeply cleanses hair without stripping moisture or colour. I think it’s important to use a good clarifying shampoo at least once a month to rejuvenate hair.

Also for hair is the PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray. This product provides soft, beachy waves without drying out the hair. I’m looking forward to seeing what this product can do for my naturally straight hair.

The last hair item is a bonus gift included in this month’s box. This Emi-Jay Hair Tie is cute and also part of a good cause since 20% of this company's profits are donated to charity.



The last two items are for the eyes.

First, The Skyn Iecland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels cool, hydrate, and refresh stressed skin under the eyes. I think these would be a nice treat for the eyes after a hot summer day.

To add a bit of colour, the Coastal Scents Revealed 3 Eyeshadow Quad features a versatile range of satiny-smooth shadows. I was a bit disappointed with this product because I know that these colours would look horrible with my colouring and would make my eyes look tired and irritated. I will pass them on to someone else.



Overall, while I am very happy with some of the items that I received, I found this month’s box to be less exciting than the April and May boxes. Hopefully the July box will be more impressive and will help me decide whether or not I should continue my subscription.

What did you receive in the June 2015 Birchbox?

*referral links present

May 2015 Birchbox

Last month, I made my first Birchbox post (see what I received in the April box HERE). I really enjoyed the box that I received and decided to continue subscribing for a few more months.

Each monthly Birchbox contains five samples from a range of categories such as skincare, haircare, fragrance, lifestyle, etc. You can also fill out a beauty profile so that the company can get to know your beauty preferences. Subscriptions cost $10 per month plus $4.95 shipping.

The May 2015 box is extra special because it was curated by Emily Schuman from Cupcakes and Cashmere. The theme of the box is Elevate Everyday, which focuses on simple products that can have a profound impact on our everyday experiences and transform our moods. The outside of the box is very uplifting with its orange and gold design, and the products are very interesting and energizing.

The first three products really caught my attention with their sleek packaging. The Whish Shave Crave Shaving Cream is an old favourite of mine. I have used this product in the past and loved how hydrating its shea butter formula is.

Also for a luxurious shower is Not Soap, Radio, The Stuff that Cupid Dips His Arrows in Body Wash, a rich cleanser with ginseng that’s meant to increase attraction. I love trying new body washes and can’t wait to use this one.

The sleek white tube is The Expressionist Bio Extreme Mascara from W3LL PEOPLE. This all-natural, pro-grade mascara lifts and lengthens lashes without chemicals or dyes. I’m really looking forward to trying this since I have a difficult time finding mascaras that do not irritate my sensitive eyes.



The last two items are for the face and lips. Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Repair Moisturizer is organic and uses fruit stem cells to firm and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. I think my mom would love this product, so I will pass it on to her.

Yes, you read the tube correctly; the final product, by Dr. Lipp, is called Original Nipple Balm for Lips. While the name seems a bit strange, it’s understandable since this product was originally made for nursing moms. It can also be used on parched lips, cuticles, and elbows as needed. I will definitely be trying this on my dry hands, cuticles, knees, and elbows.



Overall, I am quite impressed with this month’s box and feel as though my beauty preferences were considered (for the most part) when my products were selected. Like I mentioned last month, I’m still not sure how long I will continue with my subscription but will be trying it out for a few more months. It’s affordable and I have received some useful items so far. I look forward to seeing what I will receive in months to come.

What did you receive in the May 2015 Birchbox?

*This post contains referral links