Kick back, relax, Birchbox got your back (or so it hopes)

August. The summer month by which you really should have used up all those sunscreen samples. This month's BBox came to me even before the notification. The theme is Lighten Up.
At the end of July subscribers once again had a chance to choose from 2 types of boxes:

• Everyday Girl curated box titled Affordable Luxuries that contained samples of:
  Number 4™ Super Comb Prep & Protect -Sulfate-free conditioning spray
  Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Push-Up Liner - Innovative, waterproof gel pen liner
  Acure Organics Facial Scrub - Gentle exfoliating cleanser
  Not Soap, Radio Happiness Inducing Body Wash - Lemon-scented, richly foaming gel
  Harvey Prince Hello - Best-selling citrus-and-floral fragrance

• Lighten Up box  - where we had a choice of one out of four makeup samples: theBalm Stainiac; Noir Eyeliner, Laura Geller Cool Lids Cream Eye Shadow in Silver Sands or ModelCo Shimmer Bronzing Powder

It was hard for me to chose because I really wanted to try Benefit's They're Real Push-Up Liner but I did not care for the other samples in the Everyday Girl box. In the end, I did not even have the time to go on website and choose, so my Birchbox turned out to be a total surprise. What did I get?

Take a look:

#1 Harvey Prince - Ageless-

Full Size : 50 ml - $55

Sample size : 1 ml? ~$1.1

This scent boasts scientific research that helps you defy your skin's natural age-revealing scent. It has notes of : Pink Grapefruit, Pomegranate, Mango, Jasmine, Tuberose, YlangYlang and Sandalwood. It's makers define it as a fresh, sensual, luminous scent. Personally I must agree that it is a great scent. I prefer it to Hello which was very refreshing but also very short lived on my skin. This scent has some sandalwood in it which makes it a little more "durable" without being overpowering. I don't know about research but I love citrusy scents and this one has that grapefruit hint at the beginning which makes me perk up when I use it.

#2 Key West Aloe

Mango Moisturizing Lotion

Full Size:  6.0 oz. - $12

Sample size: 1 fl. oz. -$2

This lotion contains 50% aloe vera as well as  vit E, mango extracts and it absorbs quickly and hydrates the skin leaving it silky smooth.  The scent is there but it is not overpowering and it disappears after application. I felt it melting into my skin within seconds, and due to its aloe content the lotion was leaving a cooling sensation on my skin. Definitely worth a try, I regret that I only just received it. I would have loved to apply it after a day in the sun.

#3 Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow

Full Size: 1.6 oz-  $27

Sample size: 0.28 oz/8ml - $ 4.73

This skin enhancer is designed to give one a golden glow and to be worn alone or under makeup. At BBox site they say that: 

A blend of powerful antioxidants and soothing aloe and chamomile work together to calm and even skin tone. Flecked with tiny, light-reflecting pigments, this hypo-allergenic, perfume-free, and oil-free formula is perfect for those with sensitive skin.

It gives my skin a light tint, and it blends and is absorbed really quickly. I am not a fan of BB creams because I need a little bit more coverage, but I am going to use this sample this month. It is not a product that I will buy though because it is not enough to give me a polished look and I wear makeup mostly to work.

#4 ModelCo Shimmer Bronzer
Full size: 0.35 oz. - $22
Sample size: 3.6g/0.12 oz - $7.54

Shimmering bronzer - this is one of the samples that we could have chosen for our box. I was really pleasantly surprised when I got it because that was the sample I wanted. I did not know that it would have a shimmer but any bronzer is good at this time of the year. I am almost done with Pixi sample bronzer from Ipsy so this sample was godsent.

#5 SeaRx Moisturizing Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream
Full size: 1.02 fl.oz/ 30 ml   -$34
Sample size: ? probably between 3-5 ml

Presented in a pink tube this cream contains ingredients found from the seas and it is said to give one a glowing smooth complexion. I have never heard of this company before so I am looking forward to trying this cream

Was it worth it? I am happy with my Birchbox this month. I hope you were happy too :)

Power up the change- we're in the middle of summer!

This month I got my Birchbox first, but as I was going in vacation I decided to postpone posting about it until I was back. I got to go to the Bahamas for the first time in my life and I was really excited. My vacation was great, but now that I'm back I find it a bit hard to go back to the same old routine. Wish I have received Ipsy earlier- I could have used the tanning oil from this month's bag.

July's Birchbox was created in collaboration with Women's Health magazine and contains a coupon for a yearly subscription (10 issues) of the magazine for free. Valued at $9.99 it is almost a price of Birchbox so it is worth taking them up on that offer. There's even a note that one can get a refund for that amount. I guess they need new subscribers...?

In addition to that Birchbox launched a challenge called Power Up in 12 bite-sizes challenges. They asked their subscribers to follow 12 small steps like #2 Part your hair differently so that one can improve herself. all of it should be posted on Instagram and at the end of the month someone lucky will receive $500 worth of July products. The hardest challenge for me? #7 Up your sleep quality - they encourage one to go to sleep 5 minutes earlier - I don't have a bedtime :/ and #6 Skip the mirror where they ask you to ignore the mirror if only for a day. Problem is- I have a big mirror in my bathroom and one by the door- impossible to achieve.

Ok enough blabber about the challenge :)


Another innovation with July box was that subscribers got an email that allowed them to choose either a color of their Cynthia Rowley lip stain or  color of the Ruffian nail polish. I realized too late that I could have switched my selection from the lip stain to nail polish (if one really did not want the the offered option one could have asked to be switched to the other selection while supplies last).


This option has created a lot of positive buzz around the forums and groups for those that could choose. Of course, as it was a new untested promotion the site crashed soon after launching it and for a while the feedback was not so positive. I must commend developers and customer service -a lot of people said that they both managed to restore the options and that customer service really handled the crisis quite well. All in all, after a small snafu, internet waters calmed down and boxes sailed out to subscribers that were happy because they were given a choice.

So what was in my Birchbox?

Have a look: