Birchbox Review – April 2016

 

 

 

 

 

*Birchbox + Rifle Paper Co  – April edition 
Monthly subscription is £10.00 Plus £2.95 P&P
www.birchbox.co.uk

It may not feel like spring is on the horizon but it’s definitely fair to say that the April Birchbox in collaboration with Rifle Paper Co really brings in the brightness of this beautiful season with two ever so pretty box options which subscribers can pick as well as some useful essentials that you’ll be able to incorporate into your everyday beauty regime. Featuring a lovely variety of products mainly being new discoveries for me it’s the perfect excuse to switch out those heavy duty winter products to something a little more lighter and fresher. As well as the two guaranteed make up items my box also featured skincare, make up and a hair treat too. 

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 with an exceptional and very generous reward program.

1.   Benefit Dew the Hoola – Sample Size 5ml. Full Size 30ml RRP £22.50

I love it when we get to sample a new launch from Benefit and Dew the Hoola is a liquid version of their best selling powder bronzer Hoola. I applied a little of the product onto the back of my hand and rubbed it in slightly and just on the first swatch this seems really promising and the longevity is pretty amazing too, making it a great choice for those who have oily skin. Depending on how much you work it will depend on how deep the colour is and I think this will work for most, if not all, skin types.

2.   Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner in Black Sample Size. Full Size RRP £11.00

Whilst this is a repeat for me I was so happy to see the Cynthia Rowley eyeliner as it’s such a game changer when it comes to eyeliner. Cynthia Rowley who is more commonly known as a New York Fashion Designer has her very own beauty range and this pretty polka dot design with a dashing gold and black colour combination consists of a smooth, dark and long wearing formula that creates striking bold lines and gives big immediate drama thanks to it’s true black pigment.

3.   Balance Me Tinted Wonder Eye Cream  – Sample Size 5ml. Full Size £20.00

The Balance Me Tinted Wonder Eye Cream is a concealing and treatment cream all-in-one that not only cares for your delicate skin under the eyes but it also adds a wash of concealing colour that you don’t get with standard eye creams. It’s 99% natural, light in texture and comes in a universal shade with light reflecting particles to suit all skin tones. The ingredients in the tinted wonder eye cream include: cucumber seed oil to reduce puffiness and brighten skin tone, rosehip oil to encourage cell growth and renewal, and arctic cloudberry seed extract to protect the skin from environmental damage.

The formulation of this eye cream is so dreamy and light and whilst it doesn’t have the coverage of your average concealer it’s great for those make-up free days. 

4.   Parlor By Jeff Chastain Detangling Leave-in Conditioner – Travel Size 30ml. Full Size RRP £17.00

I’ve received quite a few different Parlor by Jeff Chastain samples from Birchbox so I’m happy to add the Detangling spray to my collection.

This detangler not only works as a leave-in conditioner but it doubles up as thermal protection too with sweet almond extract to protect the hair fibres whilst infusing softness, volume, and brilliance into weak or damaged hair. The addition of Vitamin B5 increases hair resistance to damage and brittleness while keeping the scalp moisturised and the Nettle extract adds shine and gloss to dull hair.

5.   Kueshi Foot Care Cream  – Travel Size 40ml. Full Size RRP £12.00

If you’ve neglected your feet during the winter months then the Kueshi Foot Care Cream comes to the rescue with a formula that’s enriched with sweet almond oil and royal jelly to smooth and soften as well as tea tree oil to calm and relieve. Just what the doctor ordered to get my feet happy and sandal-ready!

My Verdict

Did anyone else’s face turn into one of those heart-eyed emojis for a split second when Birchbox unveiled they were collaborating with Rifle Paper Co – mine did! Needless to say spring has well and truly sprung with this month’s gorgeous floral print Birchbox (designed by Rifle Paper Co.) and with it, there’s some great everyday beauty essentials to kick start the new season incorporating a nice range of skincare, haircare, and makeup from both well known and under the radar brands plus a new launch from Benefit that’s always exciting to sample! With one full sized product and the remainder being travel sized I think they’ve covered a good area of beauty and whilst it’s not the most exciting line up it’s definitely a useful one! Not to be enabler but there’s also a 25% off voucher code inside this months box too so if you’ve not checked out Rifle Paper Co already then I definitely recommend popping over to their website as they’ve got a lovely collection of floral stationary. 

I can’t even remember the last time the plain brown box made an appearance but I’m hoping these pretty designs are here to stay. If you like trying out products from well-known, loved and emerging brands then Birchbox is definitely great for this. The subscription itself is affordable and the monthly rotation of treats introduces you to brands and products you might not have otherwise found, all of which can be purchased within their online shop. Whilst Birchbox send out smaller samples with 1-2 full sized items, in my opinion they are much more consistent and are more likely to send you something that you feel the need to purchase.

The April Birchbox is available now via www.birchbox.co.uk

*PR Sample