UNBOXING: Birchbox December 2014

by - December 16, 2014



December marks the first month that a couple of very popular subscription services are available for the first time in Canada. One of those subscription services is Birchbox, which I signed up for as soon as I was able. I've had my eye on Birchbox for a while, curious to try the more popular subscription services that hadn't been available in Canada until now, so it really was a no brainer to sign up. My first box arrived today, my UPS man arriving earlier than usual to surprise me, and I couldn't have been more excited to tear into it. The box itself is a raw reusable cardboard box with a cute chevron lining that I think will be nice to store various small makeup items in in the future. A small feature, but one that I actually really enjoy. I received 5 products in this month's box.

If you're interested in taking a look at what I got, keep reading for a closer look....




Vasanti Cosmetics BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator - 20g Deluxe Sample - Value $5.67
"This customer fave mimics the effects of microdermabrasion for glowing, smooth skin."

Not gonna lie, at first I thought that this said it was an enigmatic face rejuvenator and I had a moment of chuckling to myself about how a facial scrub could be enigmatic before I realized that they weren't trying to nail this cleverly... I just can't read. Anyway. I don't love microdermabrasion because it's uncomfortable and it's hard to make myself do it. That said, I found that when I tested it on my hand the "micro-crystals" weren't too uncomfortable so I'm definitely will to try. Plus. Enigmatic enzymes, so what could go wrong? All joked aside, I have high hopes and I feel like the 20g size of this sample will allow me to really form an opinion on it.




Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave In Conditioner - 1oz Deluxe Sample - Value $3.25
"Best selling elixir that locks in colour, protects from heat damage, and adds silkiness."

No joke, friends, this smells so good that I kinda wanna douse myself in it. I almost don't even care if it does what it says it will do if it just makes my hair smell like this for the time that I get to use it. I'm not particularly good at describing smells even on a good day, but I'm quite sick at the moment so it's even worse. It's a sweet smell though, and something about it reminds me vaguely of my Prada Candy perfume. And it's just oh so good. Truth be told, it's been a long time since I used a spritz style leave in conditioner, so maybe it's time that I tried it again. Also, my hair has been tangling some lately so maybe this will help. Seriously, though. Don't care, just make me smell like this!




Harvey Prince Hello Body Cream - 15ml Deluxe Sample - Value $1.10
"Infused with best selling citrus-floral scent, this hydrator leaves skin silky-smooth."

This sample is pretty teeny, so it probably won't last me all that long, but I think a couple of uses is enough to decide if I like a body moisturizer. This really smells nice. I thought it would be more strongly lemon scented, but it's more like lemon cut with things that make it a hint spicier and a little softer. Probably the "citrus-floral" scent that they refer to in the description. Duh, Trysh. Duh. Anyway, I tried it out on my hands and it's just slightly greasy, but it did leave my skin feeling really soft and smooth. I look forward to trying this on the rest of my body.



Cynthia Rowley Eyeliner Pencil in Black - 0.03oz Deluxe Sample - Value $13.50
A luxe, creamy liner from the NYC-based designer for smudge proof, all day wear."

This pencil looks pretty little, but it's actually ¾ the size of the full size, according to the packaging. And speaking of the packaging... It's so pretty! If I have to get a black eyeliner in a subscription box or bag, which I'm pretty sure is the rules of these services, I like that it's in really pretty packaging. The tube itself is matte black with gold writing and the lid boasts really pretty gold polka dots. I mean, really. So pretty, Cynthia Rowley! When I swatched this, it was quite black and very creamy, and the swatch seems to be hanging around pretty well even after trying to wash it away with soap and water. Truth being told, I've been getting really into tightlining my eyes, so I welcome this as a possible option for that purpose.




Benefit Cosmetics Lollitint - 0.08oz. Sample Size - Value $ 6.85
"Lip and cheek stain in candy-orchid hue that blends in easily for long-lasting colour."

I have a couple of samples of Benetint hanging around my beauty collection and I find that I almost never use it, which hasn't inspired me to want to check out any of the other tints. It's thin and watery and I find it doesn't apply an even stain to my skin. However, I wasn't disappointed to get this because I absolutely love this lavender-pink shade. Also, the texture of this tint (as well as Posietint and Chachatint) is different from the thin, watery texture of the Benetint. This one is much creamier and a fair bit thicker, though it is still thin. I tried this on my lips and I actually really like the effect it gives. Once it sets, it brings some life and colour to your lips without looking like you're wearing any products. I actually have the feeling that I'm going to get a lot of use out of this in the near future.



Total Value: $30.37

Overall, I have to say that I'm really happy with my first Birchbox and I have high hopes for the future. I'm looking forward to trying out all of the products and I don't feel like there were any duds in the box, which is pretty much a miracle. I really like the way that it's packaged and I think I'll actually get some storage use out of these boxes, which is always a good thing. I definitely give my first Birchbox two thumbs up.



Birchbox is a month subscription service that is newly available to Canadian customers which provides 4-5 deluxe samples each month as well as a points system that allows you to order full sizes of all of the included products in the Birchbox Store. The thing I like about Birchbox is that they aren't just a subscription service, they're also a store that allows all customers to order the products that they love, which is nice for those of us who don't have access to some of the products in other subscription services. The cost for Canadians is $14.95 per month, which includes shipping to Canada via UPS.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR YOUR MONTHLY BIRCHBOX SUBSCRIPTION!

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