Hi Everyone

I received my July Birchbox last Thursday and although have not got a chance yet to try products properly have tried them all at least once so wanted to give you my first impressions on each product and my thoughts on this month’s box.   This month’s theme is ‘Summer Daze’ – Love the design of the drawer style box, which also fits perfectly with this month’s theme, a few months ago subscribers were asked to choose from a number of designs and this design was chosen as the favourite.

Birchbox is a monthly subscription box which costs £12.95 (inclusive of p&p) per month and 3, 6 & 12 monthly subscriptions are also available.  Usually five personalised beauty treats are included each month, although this month we got six items.

This month every subscriber either received a Benefit Lip & Cheek Stain and a Balance Me Flash Cleanse Micellar Water – both sample size items, an information card, and four additional products  based on your profile.  There usually is also a product  / beauty information booklet however this month mine is missing.   The following six products were in my box:

Balance Me Flash Cleanse Micellar Water  (Sample Size 30ml) – Full Size RRP £16.00 for 180ml – I do like micellar cleansing waters especially Bioderma and thought this one sounded good but unfortunately when I opened it the fragrance put me off straight away but I did try it once to give it a chance and although it did remove my makeup, unfortunately I did not like the feel of my skin afterwards, felt it had been ‘stripped’ rather than being cleansed/refreshed, so unfortunately not a product for me personally;

Benefit Cha Cha Tint  (sample size 2.5ml) – ‘Mini’ Size RRP £10.50 for 4ml– love a number of Benefit products  so was looking forward to trying.  Initially wasn’t sure about the colour but does look better when applied also definitely tints the skin although dries very quickly so need to be careful when applying as if you do not get it blended out in time may look patchy.  Although need to test  properly, initially not overly impressed, though may still use the sample but at this stage wouldn’t be rushing out to purchase the full size;

Percy & Reed Wonder Overnight Recovery  (travel size 30ml) – Full size RRP £20 for 150 ml – Described as a wonder overnight recovery which helps to nourish and rehydrate every hair strand, was intrigued as love applying overnight hair treatments on a regular basis.  It has a thick lotion consistency with a quite strong fragrance, which is not too unpleasant for me though maybe for some.  I applied to the scalp, roots, smoothed through lengths as directed and let it sink in for few minutes which meant thankfully no transfer onto my pillowcase .  Next morning just shampooed out, did not apply conditioner as said none needed to see how it performed and results very good without, hair felt soft, silky and looked healthy and hydrated.  So with first/one use impressed already and if results continue will consider purchasing the full size;

 

Native Unearthed Coconut & Vanilla Natural Deodorant Balm (travel size) – Full size £6.99 for 60ml – Never heard of this brand before and although sounds good as paraben & aluminium free, products like this in the past have just not worked for me, given me enough confidence throughout the day / night.  However with first try at home, the creamy balm did leave my skin fresh, feeling soft and lightly fragranced, although not sure why there seems to be slight granules in it, feels like a light scrub when you apply which seems v strange for this product, however need to try for a longer period of time to see how good results really are.  First impressions results are better than I expected;

Rituals ‘Ritual of Hammam’ Refreshing Foaming Shower Gel   Full ‘travel size’ 50ml RRP £4.50 – Used a number of products from this brand in the past and have tried other fragrances in their shower gels which I have enjoyed.   It has a gel consistency which when you rub turns into a cleansing foam and then when you apply water leaves your skin  clean, fragranced and soft.  This fragrance is not my favourite but will still use it and happy to see it included in my box;

Nanette Lepore Fragrance Small Sample Vial 2ml – Full Size £55 for 50 ml – as this is a sixth item, like a bonus item,  not as disappointed but I do not normally like beauty boxes including small fragrance samples as one of their ‘main’ items unless a good size / deluxe sample, particularly as fragrance is so personal.  This particular fragrance has a v strong overpowering scent so unfortunately just not for me but will pass to a friend to see if they like it any better.

Overall though this months box is still good enough value and love the design of the box, a bit disappointed as personally will not be using two of the items.   However as I always say this is what beauty boxes are all about and if you love all the items that is an added bonus.  Although I have so many subscriptions at the moment I will still keep subscribed to Birchbox as it was one of my first subscriptions and although recently there have been more sample sizes included within their boxes still good value for money and also love the sneak peek of one of next months products (see photo below).

 *SPOILER* – August Sneak Peek – states that everyone will receive a ‘Full Size Spectrum Collections Make-Up Brush’ in their August Birchbox – need to keep an eye on our in-boxes (if subscribed) to choose which one.  Spectrum brushes have been in a number of beauty boxes recently which I do not mind as the quality is so good – this is another reason which will keep me subscribed for the August box.

If you are thinking of  subscribing to Birchbox UK – you can get £5 off your first box -(box is normally £10 +£2.95 shipping – you will get for £5 +£2.95 shipping) by clicking  link here and then copy and paste code at checkout to get your discount.    You can also receive a FREE Benefit mascara trio (*photo below) when you join Birchbox today to get your July box,  just add the code WINK at checkout to get free Trio.

Look forward to any comments you may have – if you have received this month’s box would love to know what you thought.

If you are not already a follower would love you to follow my blog too – would mean a lot.

Thank you – enjoy the rest of the weekend and take care.

Best Wishes Liz x

* Credit Insert – Birchbox.co.uk