*Birchbox – February 2018
Monthly subscription is £10.00 plus £2.95 P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 5 items
www.birchbox.co.uk
For February, Birchbox are taking us back through the decades and putting some timeless beauty trends in the spotlight from the 70’s right through to the 90’s. I really like the idea behind this month’s box and had no idea what era was going to land on my door step but I received the 90’s box which is the design I would have picked out myself. Line-up wise, the contents didn’t really wow me if I’m completely honest but thankfully the Bumble and Bumble product which I’ve been wanting to try forever and a new discovery in the form of a cleanser that’s suitable for my oily skin was somewhat the saving grace this month!
Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription service. The box consists of 5 luxe beauty treats from well-known brands and emerging brands and occasionally you may also receive a lifestyle item too. Birchbox is also a full-blown beauty destination where you can purchase all the brands which have been featured in their boxes.
Here’s what I received inside my *February box (Contents may vary. Please see the February spoiler post to see what you may receive)
Birchbox already has me hooked on their Beauty Protector products, but if I had to choose a second favourite hair care brand, it would have to be Bumble and bumble – I see (and feel) instant results with some of their products so I was delighted to see a good sized sample of their Thickening Spray (Sample size). The spray can used before heat styling or blow drying and promises to give you a volumising boast which endures throughout the day and also benefits from guarding your hair against heat. Unlike some volumising products, this didn’t leave my hair feeling sticky or crunchy at all and did provide volume at the roots which lasted a day or so. On the downside though, it did make my hair really static for some reason but I’m definitely going to give this another try!
I am by no means happy that there are two hair care products inside this month’s box but just like Bumble and bumble, Percy and Reed do some lovely products and their Quite Frankly Flawless Finishing Polish (Travel Size) isn’t something I’ve tried before. This lightweight styler is packed with horse chesnut to keep your hairdo in place, injects moisture, smooths, defines and adds shine.
Next we have not one but two full size make-up products and first up is The Beauty Crop Eyeshadow Trio in Love You So Latte (Full size RRP £7.00), a collection of high intensity pigments which are ultra-blendable helping you create a multitude of gorgeous eye looks – from the perfect everyday look to dramatic smoky eyes. Nourished with Avocado, the formula hydrates the skin while allowing you to highlight, shadow, line and contour. It can be used dry for a more natural finish or wet for a more dramatic effect.
The ModelCo Crème Rouge Blush (Full size £14.00) is something I’ve sampled previously so for me personally it wasn’t the most exciting addition even more so as the shade just looks hideous on my pale skin but I have used this on my lips in the past which was a much better option!
Last out of the box is the Sebamed Clear Face Antibacterial Cleansing Foam (Travel size) – I can see my skin benefiting from this! This cleansing foam effectively penetrates the pores for mild pore-deep cleansing. It also protects against skin barrier damage during cleansing, leaving skin smooth and hydrated and also has a pH value of 5.5 value to support and protect the natural barrier function of the skin’s acid mantle.
My Verdict
Birchbox really nailed the theme this month and I love that they represented the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s via three different box designs – they really do think outside of the box when it comes to their curations. Even though I didn’t love everything, this box was very helpful because I got to try the Bumble and bumble Thickening Spray, something I’ve been curious about for a while so I’ll definitely continue to use my sample before I purchase the full size (providing it wasn’t the culprit that made my hair static!) Value-wise, their February edition included two full sizes and some good sized samples meaning you’ll definitely be able to judge whether you like the products or not plus I’m also thankful that they included a product targeted for spot prone skin as I’m always on the lookout for that magic formula! Did I mention there’s also a discount code to redeem 10 free retro photo prints from Cheerz – you just need to pay the £2.00 delivery cost.
March Sneak Peek: Choose your BLAQ skincare treat. Options include the Hydrogel Eye Mask or the Peel Off Mask.
Birchbox Offer:
PR Sample