Merry & Bright Birchbox – December 2016
Monthly subscription is £10.00 Plus £2.95 P&P
No. of Products in the Box – 5 items
www.birchbox.co.uk
I don’t know about you but I get really excited when the December beauty boxes start landing on my doorstep, it feels like you’re opening up an early Christmas present as they arrive with such pretty packaging! I’m a little late to the party with my review but say hello to this month’s *Merry & Bright Birchbox which not only is dressed for the occasion with its elegant exterior but the contents are also just as loveable and showcases a host of pre-party must-haves to pamper and prep your skin and hair, as well as some make up treats to create the perfect party eyes – this edit definitely has my name all over it! Did I mention the upright box (which is a first!) can also be upcycled to store make up brushes or your pens in the office!
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. Ciaté London Fierce Flicks Eyeliner – Full Size RRP £15.00
This is the second product I’ve sampled from Ciaté’s Make up range, I absolutely love their liquid velvet lipsticks week so I had high hopes for this, even more so as I do love a good liquid liner. Having tried this a few times already l week, I can confirm this is absolutely fantastic and so simple to use even for those who are beginners due to the felt tip applicator. I’ve managed to achieve an almost perfect wing every time and although the line does fade throughout the day due to it not being waterproof, I’m really happy to have discovered this and bonus, it’s full-size!
2. Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara – Sample Size. Full Size RRP £23.00
Up next and something that pairs really well with the eyeliner is the Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye Mascara, a formula that boasts a very rich and deep black pigment. Formula-wise this strikes the perfect balance and isn’t too thick or overly wet but what stood out the most for me was the immediate effect of BOOM it gave my lashes! It’s not the most buildable mascara on the planet as it can get a little chunky when too much is applied but nonetheless its something that works really well with my beloved Roller Lash Mascara.
3. Benefit Cosmetics the POREfessional Matte Rescue – Sample size. Full Size RRP £21.50
The December Birchbox wouldn’t be the same without the obligatory Benefit product, their samples are just the cutest!
Described as an invisible-finish, mattifying gel that works to eliminate shine and absorb excess oil with a lightweight water-based formula, the product is infused with soft-focus, blurring diamond powder to diminish the look of pores whilst creating a natural matt-looking complexion and also benefits from a deeply moisturising formula to leave the skin looking perfected, soft and supple. I’m not a big fan of the original Porefessional Primer so I’ll be interested to see if this one works better for me.
4. Percy & Reed Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Balm – Travel size 30ml. Full Size RRP £18.00
Enriched with natural proteins and bursting with nourishing conditioning agents, the lightweight balm quickly absorbs into the hair follicle and dries to help penetrate and repair from within without the need to protect your pillows from stickiness or residue. It promises to revitalise and refresh hair so it’s easier to manage, noticeably bouncier, frizz-free and super glossy.
I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Percy & Reed and although I’ve tried this previously I’m happy to have another sample on standby as the weightless formula effortlessly calms my frizz and flyaways and leaves my hair looking healthy and shiny.
5. dr. brandt PoreDermabrasion – Sample size 7.5g. Full Size RRP £43.00
I occasionally struggle with random breakouts so I was excited to get this product because I’m always on the hunt for that miracle potion!
The Dr. brandt PoreDermabrasion is a unique physical and chemical exfoliator and pore perfector in one that’s suitable for all skin types. The description alone makes some bold claims and promises to shrink pores down to the vanishing point while smoothing and evening skin’s texture. This exfoliant contains tiny particles that scrubs away dirt, oil, and dead skin cells to reveal an instant brighter and polished complexion.
My Verdict
While my December box may not have contained any new brand discoveries, I was happy to receive a nice collection of everyday staples none of which I actually disliked so it was a winning month for me as I got a lovely assortment of make up, hair and skin care goodies from some of my favourite brands that I know will always deliver a quality product. Admittedly, I was kind of hoping that Birchbox would give us a little extra treat in addition to the five usual beauty treats for the festive season but other than that job well done I’d say plus all the samples were good sized to judge whether they work for you or not. It’s been a pretty great year for me with Birchbox and I’m really looking forward to seeing what kinds of fun things they have in store for us in 2017!
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.
Your FREE gift this December!
Receive a free FULL-SIZE Smith & Cult Lip Lacquer (worth £21!) when you join Birchbox today! Use the code REDLIP at the checkout or get 50% off your first box using the code YOURS via www.birchbox.co.uk
*PR Sample