a royally good birchbox
06:32
I feel like one of the last people to jump on the beauty box subscription bandwagon. Obviously, I've seen and read about these boxes through social media and the world of online beauty, but I never thought to look into it myself, until now. And I really don't know why I waited so long. I love hair and beauty, I love samples, and most of all I love getting things through the post. I decided to sign up to Birchbox this month and I'm so glad I did.
Birchbox is a monthly subscription service that costs £10 a month, plus post and packaging. Each month you are sent a box of goodies, be it from cult beauty brands or up and comers that you might not have heard of yet. The great thing about Birchbox is that if you are sent a sample that you fall in love with, you can buy the full size product on their site, and earn points which accumulate into money off future purchases.
There are usually monthly themes that each box is centred around. April's box was designed in anticipation of the new royal baby, with pink and blue boxes and an extra gift inside. There was also a choice of which Laura Mercier product you'd prefer to receive. Out of the foundation primer, mascara and eyeliner, I chose the mascara. I like the fact you can occasionally choose your samples, while knowing that everything else you receive will be personalised for you thanks to a survey you complete when signing up on the website.
I was so eager to receive my first box, and when it arrived in the post I was definitely not disappointed! The boxes are beautifully crafted and designed, and each include an information card that details the products you're getting, how they're used and it's full-size price. Here's what I thought of each item in my first Birchbox.
Laura Mercier Mascara - £19.50
I'm always on the lookout for my next new favourite mascara, hence why I chose this sample over the primer and eyeliner. My current favourite is Benefit's Roller Lash, however, from just a couple of uses, I think this Laura Mercier one could shape up to be a strong contender. One coat gave me pretty, fluttery lashes, while a second pumped up the volume and length without looking clumpy. I have very short, straight eyelashes and I found that I didn't need to curl them with this mascara. A big thumbs up from me, this one ticks all the boxes.
Lola Barcelona in Born - £7.50
This nail polish was created exclusively for this months Birchbox by Lola Barcelona. I found the formula to be very opaque and easily applied - it gave a very finished look with only one coat! The colour is a gorgeous shimmery lilac which is right up my street. I'm a big fan of pale colours and pastels on my nails, and I thought this was the perfect shade for spring. I did notice some chipping after a couple of days, however, I used the polish without a topcoat and I'm prone to picking when I'm stressed. Under better circumstances, I can see this nail colour lasting well.
Percy & Reed London Smoothed, Sealed & Sensational Volumising No Oil Oil - £14
I've always been a big fan of hair oils - I can't remember the last time I washed my hair without applying some argan oil afterwards. I am often mindful of how much I'm using though, I know too much oil can make for greasy locks, and nobody wants that. When I read about this no oil oil, it sounded promising. Smooths, tames and volumises hair all at once, without the oil to weigh it down? Let me at it! After washing my hair I towel dried it and applied one or two pumps of the no oil oil through the tips and mid-lengths. This product has quite a strong fragrance, not unpleasant, but it does smell a bit... soapy? Anyway, after blowdrying I did notice some extra volume - whether that was because of the oil or from drying upside down, I'm not sure. My hair felt soft and smelled nice. The tips still felt slightly dry, but that comes with bleaching them. On the inside of the label there's a sneaky trick to deal with flyaways where you warm the oil in your hands and swirl a blusher brush in it before brushing it through your hair - miraculously, and as silly as I felt rubbing a blusher brush on my head, it worked! This oil is definitely one I'd consider buying once my current oil runs dry.
bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash - £19.50
This face wash is described as a 'double-duty cleanser and exfoliator' with a tonne of natural ingredients. You simply squeeze the product into your hands, massage into the face and neck and rinse away. My usual cleanser of choice is the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish, so when I read that this cleanser was foaming I was slightly apprehensive, but I thought I'd try it out anyway - for science. The foaming wasn't too excessive, which was nice, and it managed to get rid of all my makeup, including mascara (note: the Laura Mercier sample I also received. Whether this is a testament to the cleanser or the mascara, it's up to you). However, after rinsing and drying my face did feel drier and tighter than usual - I had to lather on quite a bit of moisturiser to feel normal again. The smell was pleasant, but I think this cleanser would work better for someone who doesn't have dry and sensitive skin like I do. I think I'll stick to Liz Earle.
Pommade Divine Nature's Remedy Balm - £19.80
This product intrigued me. It's an apparently all-purpose balm made from 97% natural ingredients that can be applied to any problem areas you might have - sounds interesting! The balm sample came in a mini tube and had a scent I can't quite put my finger on, although it's a very pleasant one. It smells familiar to me and reminds me of being a child somehow. Anyway, I used this balm on my lips, any dry patches of skin, and even on some insect bites I had, and magic happened! It works as a great moisturiser, it soothed the itching of my bites, and apparently it can even be used to repair any bumps, scrapes or bruises in a flash! To me, this is one of those staple products that should be found in any home, and it's something I'll definitely purchase full-size.
Befine Warming Clay Mask - £17
This clay mask was my beauty bonus this month, and I was super excited to try it. My housemates and I often enjoy a pampering session with face masks while watching an episode of American Horror Story or Sherlock, so I was eagerly anticipating the next girly night in for an excuse to try it. The mask warms on contact to your face and contains cardamom (those seeds you have to pick out of your pilau rice because they smell lovely but taste hideous), arnica and pomegranate. You simply apply a thin layer to your face, leave for five minutes and wash off. The first thing I noticed when trying out the mask was the smell - it was amazing! You get a fair bit of product in the sample size as well, which considering you only need a thin layer is great. After washing the mask away my face definitely felt refreshed and moisturised, and was soft to the touch. Definitely recommend.
I was overall very happy with the contents of my first Birchbox, and am eagerly awaiting May's addition! Look out for a similar post in a months time where I'll talk about all the treats I received.
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