I’ve been completely fascinated with the concept of beauty boxes for a while, so when I was lucky enough to try Birchbox’s April offering I jumped at the chance.
With Birchbox, you can subscribe for around £10 a month, (although it gets cheaper if you subscribe), and then every month they send you five luxury samples all packed in a little bag and box. Since I’m kind of obsessed with beauty samples (you should see my box of them) this seems like a really fun idea.
April’s box had a loosely edible theme, and there were six samples all tucked up in my box. These included:
- Yes to Cucumbers facewipes
- Proper Corn popcorn snack
- Color Club Nail Varnish
- RMK Makeup Base
- The Balm Lip and Cheek color
- Yin Tang Gold Defense Face and Body Moisturizer.
The first product I cracked open was the Proper Corn bag – Sweet Coconut and Vanilla popcorn which is under 40 calories for the entire bag. It was a little sweet for my tastes, but if you’re on a diet and need something sweet, this is great for not derailing your day.
I’ve been wanting to try Yes to … products for a while. My US magazines always rave about them (these have an Allure seal of approval) so it was great to finally get a feel. This pack contains 10 wipes, and it’s super convenient for popping into a gym bag or if you’re traveling. They do smell quite cucumber-y, but it’s a soft and refreshing scent. They didn’t remove eye makeup, but my regular concealer, blush and bronzer didn’t stand a chance against them!
I’ve only ever seen Color Club at US manicurists, so it’s so great to get my paws on a bottle of my own. I received Gold Struck, a soft rose gold, foil effect polish. When I tried it, the first coat was pretty streaky, but it evened out after two, and was perfect after three. It’s a beautiful warmed gold which looks chic, and it’s a nice change from my regular beige polishes. I can’t comment on the wear time since I only got the box yesterday, but so far, so good!
RMK is another I’ve been lusting after, and this sample of Makeup Base couldn’t come at a better time, as I’m running low on my Laura Mercier primer. The base is a runny, light pink lotion which sinks into skin, leaving it feeling moisturized and smooth, the colour also adds a little brightness to my face for early mornings. Once it’s all sunk in, I can use my regular foundation and concealer as normal, and it really adds to the longevity of my makeup. I would definitely put this down as a future purchase.
How ‘Bout Them Apples? from The Balm is a completely adorable teeny-tiny lip and cheek colour which comes in a Benefit-esque cardboard booklet.
I received the colour Pie, and it’s a stunning bright pinky red which looks rather vibrant in the pan. Thankfully it’s a whole lot sheerer when applied, and it has a beautiful glossy finish. As a blush, this would look perfect with tan skin and freckles in the summer, and it’s a great almost-coloured lip. The other side of the booklet shows the other colors in the full-sized compact, although I don’t understand the whole naked cowboys in the makeup dealio.
Yin Yang’s Gold Defence Face & Body Moisturizing Lotion is the last product from my box. The company specialize in organic skincare, and I appreciate the multipurpose nature of the product. Since my skin is super-sensitive I haven’t tried it on my face, but it’s a lovely light lotion for my body, and the size means I can slip it into my bag and go!
I’m actually pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed my Birchbox. It was a great way to try new brands which I had been reading about, as well as being introduced to new ones as well! The sizes of the products are perfect for slipping into my numerous makeup bags.
The boxes cost £10 each, and you can subscribe here.
