Birchbox: March’s Beauty Box

It felt like I had to wait a lot longer for my Birchbox to arrive this month. Maybe it was the anticpation of the Lulu Guiness collaboration. Or the fact that Birchbox kept tweeting spoilers on my Twitter feed. At long last, the box finally arrived with me yesterday. If I’m totally honest, I was a tad disappointed with the product line up this month. Read on and I’ll tell you why.

Benefit Stay Don’t Stray

First up and a product that is said to have been handpicked by Lulu Guiness herself is the Benefit’s Stay Don’t Stray. Being a red lipstick lover, Lulu pairs her signature crimson pout with well a groomed brow and eye combo. Benefit’s eye primer will ensure that your eyeshadow and under eye concealer stays put. Now this product has my full attention. Too often have I found that a few hours into the day, my eyeshadow can begin to crease and my under eye area begins to look dry, and where the concealer has moved, my fine lines become more emphasised. I have yet to find a primer that will make my eye makeup stay completely put until the end of the day. Maybe this will be the one…

Dr. Brant Pores No More Pore Refiner

Another pore refiner! If you read blogpost last month, you would know that I got Benefit’s The POREfessional which I have been using these past few weeks. Now I don’t have an issue with my pores but I like how the Benefit one provides a smooth, even surface for my makeup to sit on top of and how it makes my makeup last that little bit longer. This Dr. Brant Pores No More Pore Refiner claims to also absorb excess oil which is great for me because I really struggle with the unecessary overspill of oil in my t-zone. I am eager to give this a go and see whether it lives up to it’s promises.

Aroma Works Nurture Body Oil

I think subscribers would have got either the Aroma Works Nurture Body Oil or the Serenity Body Oil. I got the former which has got that gorgeous spa-like scent. It is said to be a blend of “sumptuous” (I love this word) oils and for use all over the body after you shower or take a bath. I remember back in the day when I used to lather up on Johnson’s baby oil, particularly when my skin was extremely dry and when no moisturiser would work at bringing my skin back to life. I think it’s safe to say that this is a little (a lot) more sophisticated that that. It contains May Chang and Sandalwood fragrances which is said to promote calm. I do like to moisturise after I shower but sometimes I get a bit lazy and end up skipping it but I guess this little sample gives me a reason to do it (I just love trying new things).

English Laundry No.7 For Her

I’ve not heard of this brand before, probably because it’s more well known for creating fragrances for men. The No.7 For Her by English Laundry is a nice scent. Quite sweet and fruity although my boyfriend took one whiff and said that it was “too sweet” but I quite like it. I’m not the best person when it comes to describing scents but I describe the best I can at this being more of an everyday, daytime scent which is a bit young and fun (bet that made no sense at all). I like it and with it being in a small atomiser (with lid), it’s going straight into my handbag.

Cellu-Cup

Now I should have known from the name that this little contraption had something to do with cellulite. But truth is, my first thoughts were “wtf is this?”. After a quick google on the good old mini iPad (best Christmas present ever!) I discovered that it was a massaging device to help to combat the thing that all women loathe…yes you guessed it, cellulite! This “thing” actually reminds me of the cups used in cupping, which is an ancient Chinese method of alternative medicine. My google search brought me to this page http://www.cellu-cup.com/en/# and that’s when my initial thoughts were confirmed, the Cellu-cup was born from the tradition of cupping (God I’m clever!). To use the product you have to pinch it with the open side up, place it on the body (i.e. where you have the cellulite, and on wet soapy skin or after applying body oil) and then slide it back and forth. And there you have it, no more cellulite (supposedly). I’m not sure if i’ll be using this device. Sure I have cellulite but this just seems a bit too gimmicky. I’ll probably end up eating my own words though.

Candy Rock

Now I’ve saved the best to last (not!). This is the product that is said to have inspired Lulu Guiness’ Spring/Summer 2014 collection. A piece of monochrome, stripy rock. Yes, the type you get at the seaside on your school trips yonks ago. I may have been thinking wishfully when I heard about the Lulu Guiness collaboration with Birchbox. I was thinking something along the lines of the lip shaped coin purses which she did in collaboration with Clinque and House of Fraser for the charity Kiss It Better on the 10th anniversary of Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital (read about it here). That was definately wishful thinking. Instead, subscribers get a piece of rock (which I can’t stand as it gets stuck in your teeth). However, you do get £20 off if you spend £100 at any Lulu Guiness store or online in March. Now I’ve been spending far, far, FAR too much money online this month so I think I’ll give it a miss. Die hard Lulu Guiness fans would probably lap this up. So there you have it, my disappointment.

So that is it for this month’s Birchbox. Oops, I almost forgot to mention that you also get a Benefit voucher for a free “makeupper” (I think they mean a makeover but for the brows seeing as your brows are the “upper” part of your face. Yeah took me a while to get it too) and to try the new brow offering they have, the Gimme Brow. Now that is really it. Let me know what you have got in your Birchbox and what your thoughts on the products are and whether you’ll be using the Cellu-Cup.

 

 

 

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2 comments

  1. hi there, so happy you are reviewing the birchbox system – was thinking to sign up, but was not sure if the products would be super sample dinky size – I know £10 a month is not that much, but still if you add it up over a year – it is a big amount of money that you could blow on a lovely pair of new shoes! ha ha – I will be following your reviews and may even sign up to birchbox – so far so good! – any single product that has stood out do you think? I am particularly interested in anything that makes my skin look smooth – and cover any blemishes and acne scars. any advice would be much appreciated – thanks

    1. You do get dinky sizes but also the odd full sized treat like the Leighton Denny nail polish I got. You’re not tied into any contract and can cancel at any time if you don’t think it’s worth it but if you’re a beauty junkie like me and like trying out new products then it’s a small price to pay I think. The
      CORYSE SALOME ULTIMATE ANTI-AGE RESTORATIVE NIGHT CREAM that I got in last months Birchbox is great. I slap this on before I get into bed and wake up with smooth, hydrated skin.Despite coming in a dinky tub, it’s last me a fair few weeks 🙂

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