PDP Exclusives by Rebecca

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

February Birchbox




             My February Birchbox arrived nice and early again this month! I got my box on the 11th this time.
If are not familiar with Birchbox you can read through my first Birchbox post here or jump to the end of this post for more information. The Birchbox website never updated to show me what was in my box so it was a total surprise. FUN!! I was especially excited because there were some awesome products this month such as a whitening mouthwash  and a beauty blender sponge. Well I got neither. This is the worst box I have gotten from Birchbox in the 6 months I have been subscribed. It is way too much skin care stuff and I really do not love the idea of the eyeliner sticker thing. Even though these items are not my favorite I still feel like this box is worth the $10 price tag.
              
       The box arrived in perfect condition with everything packed to perfection as usual!!
                 The card was for some music group and the heart is a nail file.
                                                                   
 $38 for 1.7 fl
                The oil-free formula feels positively weightless on but gives you plenty of even coverage. Skin looks soft and dewy and, thanks to SPF 20, you’ll be extra protected from the sun.The formula has light-diffusing minerals, which give skin a soft glow and also smooth over any fine lines. Antioxidants like ginseng and gingko biloba leaf extract help improve skin, and SPF 20 wards off UVA and UVB rays.

       There has been a Jouer product almost every month in the box, it almost makes you wonder if Birchbox owns Jouer!!! Overall I like the brand but I do not love it nor do I feel like it is worth the higher price tag the brand touts. This was an average tinted moisturizer. I liked it but would not buy it because I feel like their are many cheaper options that are the same quality.


$29 for 2 fl oz 
           This organic formula is a vast improvement over your run-of-the-mill drugstore acne products, which can irritate your skin with drying benzyl peroxide, petroleum glycols, artificial dyes, and fragrances. The key ingredient is a natural dose of salicylic acid, derived from willow bark, which purifies pores and shrinks even the fiercest pimples. Other actives include brightening Vitamin C, CoQ10 and organic fruit acids. To top it off, aloe, which soothes irritation; detoxifying dandelion leaf, lemon balm leaf, and sage leaf extracts are also in this serum.
  I am at the greasy face point in my cycle and I have to say this stuff seemed to make it worse. It is a gel product and it did not really melt into my skin at all. I felt like I had a film on my face all day after applying it. My face felt moist and sticky most of the day so I suppose you can say it hydrates well. I would not buy this product in full size.


 $50 for 2.6 oz

        When you mix the fine powder with water, it turns into a creamy paste that polishes skin’s surface with a mix of chemical and physical exfoliators. The rice bran base is rich in phytic acid, famed for its brightening and softening properties. Other actives include papaya enzyme, salicylic acid, and finely ground colloidal oatmeal, all proven to smooth skin and remove debris. 

            I was most excited to try this out. I mixed it with a little water and it was too thick so I added enough to make it pasty but that seemed to dillute it too much and it was just a soft paste with no exfolliant. I was not really impressed. Especially with the high price tag. I feel like a random scrub from Target or a homemade one would be easier and work just as well.

$13 for 2 sets 
        The stick-on adhesives are super easy to apply and help you create an array of eye-catching looks. Unlike traditional liners, they won’t smudge or fade.




         Yeah... I took one look at this and laughed. It is comical really. I guess it could be useful for someone who is not good at applying liquid liner but then again, if you can't apply liquid liner you may not be able to be precise and apply this either. It is just plain strange. I had a very hard time getting the inner corners to stick down and stay down. They kept popping up so I left it. I also had to apply this with my eye wide open and my lashes kept getting in the way. It was plain awkward. I disliked the feeling these had. They were more pliable then an actual sticker but they still felt heavy on my eye. I felt like my eye skin movement was restricted. I would definitely NOT buy these. They are odd.......



              What did you think about this months box?? Are you dissatisfied with your Birchbox as of late?

If you are interested in joining Birchbox click here . That is my affiliate link and I will get points when you sign up.  Month to month subscriptions can be canceled at anytime.  Just make sure you cancel before the end of the month!

         If you know what Birchbox is then you can skip reading below.  I want to explain it again for the new followers here =0)

Birchbox you ask?
Birchbox delivers the best products and the best insider secrets, without any fuss. Every month Birchbox members will receive a curated box of luxe beauty samples. Each box will span beauty categories and deliver exciting products that fit into both your day-to-day routine, and into those days when you want to turn up the drama a notch.
Co-founders Hayley Barna and Katia Beauchamp met at Harvard Business School. They created Birchbox to help women cut through the clutter of the beauty world to find products that really work for them.
Each month, you'll receive a  selection of 4-5 samples that we’ve tried (and retried) ourselves.  You'll receive anything from skincare to makeup to cult beauty tools, from well-known brands as well as emerging gems.A subscription to Birchbox is $10 a month or $110 for the year.

Thanks for reading
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9 comments:

  1. My box seems like an after thought to but I have to agree that Jouer seems to be in every box.

    I got these lip sticker thingies . . . seem like way too much work.

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    1. I have tried the lip stickers too. They are weird. I did not like them much

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  2. I got my box this month before I got the shipping notice.. which I thought was awesomeee!! But I agree this was the worst box I have gotten in the 7 months i been getting them.. I did like the Dermalogicia exfoliant.. but would never spend 50 bucks to get it.. the joure tinted moisturizer is a nice idea but my ELF one works great and is soo much cheaper.. HAHA the sticker thingys made me laugh to.. like really.. beauty is an art.. the stickers are weird and seem like a pain..I did get the beauty sponge which I am super excited to use.. but all in all I am super dissapointed about this months box... and its the v-day box.. wheres the chocolate?? lol Myglam bag had chocolate!!! lol.. great review girl.. lets cross our fingers for a better box next month..

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    1. Those beauty blender sponges cost like $25 for two so it was a great product. I am sad I didnt get it LOL I felt the same way as you about most of the products.

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  3. I got one of the beauty blenders, and think this was one of the best birchboxes I have gotten in the last 4 months. I was about to cancel it too. I love the exfoliant, but I already use it and love it for my senitive skin. You habve to learn how much water to mix to make it work though.

    Thanks for the review!

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    1. I was excited but I ended up not getting the products I was excited about lol. Just my luck. I am gifting the skincare stuff and hopefully next month there is some actual makeup or something fun!!

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  4. Oh my gosh, you summed up how I feel about the eye liners exactly! I was seriously hoping not to get them. Thankfully I didn't. I'm glad I got a makeup item in my box this month, even though it didn't work out. I know they send out so much skincare stuff, but I really like trying makeup too!

    I did my unboxing and review here:
    http://www.mrsgaeul.com

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  5. Ha ha, Nate doesn't like it when I put a wing on my eyeliner at all, so I can only imagine his reaction to these STICKERS.

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