Birchbox July 2014

Birchbox July 2014: Women's Health Collaboration

I'm trying really hard to get my backlog of July boxes published while it is still July!  Hopefully now that I'm caught up, I can get back to timely reviews.

Like last year, Birchbox has once again teamed up with Women's Health.  They included a coupon for a free year of Women's Health magazine, or you could opt for a $9.99 refund for it.  So, this box was basically all profit when you take into account the magazine or refund, plus the points you earn for reviewing all the items!  

Birchbox and Women's Health, July 2014

I have been loving all of the cute custom designs BB has been rolling out for the collaboration boxes.  Good thing I save them to use for gift boxes!

My box came rather late this month, so I had time to peek at the items online.

Birchbox July 2014 First Look

Birchbox has also implemented a new feature, where you can choose one of the samples that will be included in your upcoming box!  More on that later.

BB included a little booklet of challenges, I've featured some of them in the background of my pictures.

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion

This is a nice lotion.  It smells like lemons, and is not too heavy.  I like it.  That's all I have to say about that.

Full size (250 mL) is $24, making this 50 mL sample worth $4.80

Like I mentioned, BB let you pick this month from 3 different Ruffian polish colors, OR from 3 different lip gloss colors.  I chose this rose-gold color called Rosary, from their Rapture collection.  I talked myself out of a metallic silver or a metallic lavender because I'm a sucker for anything rose-gold.

I have one other Ruffian polish that I like, because it goes on evenly and lasts for a long time without chipping.  However, these are only 5 mL (normal polishes are usually 15 mL) and a single polish retails on Birchbox for $11!  As a set of three, you only pay $26.50 which brings the individual cost down to $8.33/polish.

Ruffian Rosary
No watermark because I'm lazy
Go ahead, steal my picture of my streaky nails.  See if I care.

This polish, being a metallic finish, was definitely streaky.  That's hard to avoid in metallics, but I've definitely encountered worse.  Do you remember the really old (late 90s) Sally Hansen Chrome polishes? That's what this reminds me of, but less streaky.  Man, I loved those! I had one in this color, it makes me feel really nostalgic which I look at my nails.

Nostalgia aside, this polish shows every nail imperfection you have, and also doesn't last more than a day without chipping.  Too bad.

$8.33

Beauty Protector Protect & Treat Hair Mask

After getting the Joico reconstructor in #NGQ03, anything else seems like a let-down, including my beloved Beauty Protector brand.  This mask was light pink, smelled like all the other products from this brand, and did a decent job at deep conditioning my hair.  My hair is to the point where the 0.5 fl.oz. container was just barely enough for it! So, at least I received two uses in this box.

Now that I calculated it out, about $3.25 is kinda pricy for a single deep conditioning session!  I think I'll save my BB points for more bottles of the Protect & Detangle spray.

$25.95 for 4 fl.oz., 2 x 0.5 fl.oz. samples worth $6.49

benefit Posie Balm

I was super excited to receive a product from benefit this month!  I love their posie tint, and I had high hopes for the lip-balm form, posie balm.  It mostly has mango butter, and leaves a sheer wash of color.  I untwisted it fully for the picture above... that's a tiny sliver of lip balm! Holy crap! If you're going to spend all that effort on fancy packaging, you would think there would be a little more of the product inside!

Full size, 0.1 oz, is $18.  The sample is worth $1.80 because it is 0.01 oz of product.

Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Overnight Detox Oil

I've tried some Caudalie products in the past, and have generally liked them.  It's a little too expensive of a skin-care/ antiaging line for me, but I normally appreciate getting the products.  This oil is supposed to promote overnight cellturnover and skin purification.  Sure.  It will keep your face nice and hydrated though!  My skin looks nice and smooth and youthful in the mornings after I use this.  However, that comes with a price.  This smells awful.  Seriously.  It's like a terrible herbal smell I would expect from Juice Beauty, and not from Caudalie.  Ugh.  Fortunately, the smell only lingers for a minute or two.

30 mL is $52, so the 1 mL sample is worth $1.73.  I hate those little trial vials, but since I've been careful when I open this up, I have been able to get quite a few uses out of it.  A little goes a long way (especially when it smells this badly!)

Ruffian Dressing Room Perfumed Nail Lacquer Remover Towelette

This was a little bonus in the box, since (almost) everyone got a Ruffian nail polish.  I like these little travel packets a lot, and I will bring it with me on my upcoming vacation.  They aren't really cost effective, but they sure are convenient!

Set of 10 retails for $12, making a single wipe worth $1.20

Birchbox July 2014

I was pretty pleased  with this box.  I can get past the tiny sample size for the posie balm, and the smell of the Caudalie oil, so everything worked out pretty well for me.  Nothing went into my giveaway stash!

All together, this month's box had a value of $23.35.  Factor in the free year of Women's Health (or the $9.99 rebate) and the 60 points I received for reviewing the items (10 points per item, each 100 points = $10 to spend in the BB shop, so 60 points = $6), and I would say this was a great month overall.

Birchbox costs $10 per month and you get 4-6 sample (and occasionally full sized) items.  You can review each item you receive for 10 BB points, and every 100 points can be redeemed for $10 to spend in their online shop.  This is a great deal!  If you want to try Birchbox, please use my link here.  I'll get some extra BB points for each referral.

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me. This post contains referral links.

Birchbox June 2014

Birchbox June 2014 Review

I know.  I know.  I'm a slacker and this is SUPER DUPER late.  I apologize.

In the month of June, I moved, attended a week-long conference, and had a mini vacation to go see my sister, her husband, and their newborn baby! My niece trumped reviews, sorrynotsorry!


Ok, so here is my very late June 2014 Birchbox review.

The box's theme was, "away we go"

I don't think I peeked at the spoilers for this one?  Maybe I did? I don't remember, it was so long ago.  Soz.

First Look

This is like unwrapping it again! Oh right, I did get that.

Nexxus Color Assure Sulfate-Free System

Finally! A shampoo sample that is sulfate-free from Birchbox!  Woo!

This set came with sample sizes of the pre-shampoo primer (an oil you rub into your dry hair before washing it), a shampoo, and a conditioner.  They all smelled good to me, vaguely like candy.

Really?

The only bad part about these samples were their containers!  It was impossible for me to empty out all the shampoo and conditioner from the stupid bottle-shaped packs.  I did like all of the products, the primer less than the shampoo and conditioner, but I don't think I will be buying these in the future.  There are cheaper options out there that smell just as good.  The good part was, I could review each of the three of these individually!  Extra points this month!

Primer, $17.99 for 3.3 fl.oz, 0.17 fl.oz. sample worth $0.93

Shampoo, $11.99 for 13.5 fl.oz., 0.3 fl.oz. sample worth $0.27

Conditioner, $14.99 for 13.5 fl.oz., 0.3 fl.oz. sample worth $0.33

Total: $1.57

Egyptian Magic

I also got a sample of Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream.  It is made with olive oil, beeswax, honey, pollen, royal jelly, and bee propolis.  It is a firm solid, but melts with the heat of your finger so you can slather it wherever.  I don't really have a use for this right now, but maybe this winter it will help with my skin.  The internet says that people use this for anything and everything, maybe I'll find something before the cold weather hits, or maybe I won't. Who know?  For now, I just feel fancy having something with royal jelly in it.

Full size is $38 for 4 oz, and my 0.25 oz sample is worth $2.38

I was excited for the box colors, but it wasn't diamonds, just face cleanser

I haven't used this yet, but I've used a different version and really liked it.  I am hoping this one is just as nice.  The kit came with a 1 fl.oz. sample of the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, and a muslin cloth with which to use it.

$21.50 for 3.3 fl.oz. and $6 for 2 replacement cloths, making 1 fl.oz. worth $6.52 and one cloth $3.

Total $9.52

Boring

I got samples of English Laundry (for him and another one for her) in Ipsy earlier this year, and I'm indifferent to it.  It's a little annoying to get perfume samples, and especially annoying to get the SAME perfume samples- but this version is smaller than the one I got from Ipsy!  This is a woody, musky floral and almost smells like an old lady.  Maybe the roses?

$90 for 3.4 fl.oz., 0.017 fl.oz. worth $1.53

Black.  It had to be black.

Last, but not least, is a black eyeliner from Cynthia Rowley.  It's adequate, but it's nothing special.  I would have preferred to receive a different color, like silver or violet!

$16 for 0.04 oz. sample is 0.03 oz. and is worth $12

At least nothing was offensive, and I got to review 7 things!

Overall, my BB this month was worth $27 even.  There were some decent things, but the packaging of the shampoo (and TINY sizes), and the perfume were a little bit of a let down.  I'm sure I can find someone who will like the eyeliner, and I'll eventually get to the facewash.  I have quite the stash of them from all these subscription boxes!

Birchbox costs $10 per month and you get 4-6 sample (and occasionally full sized) items.  You can review each item you receive for 10 BB points, and every 100 points can be redeemed for $10 to spend in their online shop.  This is a great deal!  If you want to try Birchbox, please use my link here.  I'll get some extra BB points for each referral.

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me. This post contains a referral link; see above for details.

Birchbox May 2014

Birchbox May 2014 Review

Wow, was Birchbox late this month!  

Although, I did get this box a week ago and I've been so busy at work that I haven't gotten the chance to review it yet.  But still, BB was late.

This month, the theme is and BB teamed up with Kate Spade Saturday to give us an exclusive discount code and a different box than normal.  The box is super cute, and the outer packaging was yellow instead of pink, which was fun.  Yellow is such a bright, sunny, happy color, and it was cute to see it in my mailbox!  

Birchbox May 2014, First Look

Upon first look, I was super excited!  See the white bottles? I've been waiting for those for like a year!  The good thing about BB is that if you have your eye on a particular sample, if you wait long enough you will eventually get it in one of your boxes!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Beauty Protector: Protect and Detangle spray, and I've been wanting to try their shampoo and conditioner set, but haven't wanted to shell out the money/points for a full size set in case I didn't like it.  So, needless to say, I was very happy to see those this montb.

Laqa & Co. Sheer Lip Lube in Bees Knees

Here is another item that is right up my alley!  Laqa&Co. Lip Lube in Bees Knees, which is a much more coral/peach toned color than in the above picture.  Lip crayons are my favorites, they are super easy to apply and very portable.  I like my Revlon Balm Stains the best, because of the stain part, but the crayon format is awesome.

The full size is 0.07oz and costs $18.  We were sent the full size! This is super tiny for an $18 pencil.

Lip Tube on my face

This is a very pretty coral color, perfect for the summer.  However, it settles VERY fast into any lines in your lips and I strongly recommend using a heavy-duty exfoliant beforehand.  It has average wear time for a colored balm, and smells slightly minty.

Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen

I have so much Supergoop!  I've gotten samples of Supergoop twice from Birchbox, but they justified sending me more because this is a different product than the City Serum.  Whatever.  I will use it, that's for sure! I'm a vampire.  I've learned the hard way that no matter how badly I want to be tan, it will never happen.  I burn, and then peel back to the whitest of the whites.  So, sunscreen is my friend!

Full size is $48 for 18 fl.oz., and this sample is 0.34 fl.oz., making it worth $0.91.  Thanks, BB.  At least it's a tube instead of a ketchup packet.

Beauty Protector Protect & Condition and Protect & Shampoo

If you like the smell of Protect & Detangle (vanilla candy? It's hard to describe), these smell the same.  The shampoo is sulfate-free (YAY!) and the conditioner is very rich.  A little goes a long way for both of them.  I really, really like these and wish they weren't so expensive!  I think I'll buy these with my next batch of accumulated BB points.  These were everything I had hoped they would be!

Beauty Protecor Protect & Shampoo and Protect & Condition are $21.95 each for 8 oz.  The samples are 1 oz each, for a total value of $5.49 for both.

32 Effervescent Breath Treatment Packets

Do you remember pop rocks? The candy crystals with CO2 dissolved into them, so as the candy started to melt in your mouth, the gas would free itself, expanding rapidly and shattering the thinned candy around it- thus popping.  It was a party in your mouth! Sometimes the pops were a little too violent and felt like an electric shock- like licking a 9V battery.  Not that I advise you to lick a 9V battery...

Anyway, these are the grown-up version of pop rocks.  They are little packets of breath-freshening crystals that you are supposed to swish around your mouth as they dissolve and pop.  There is less popping power in these than in the candy version.  These were like toothpaste-flavored Pop Rocks, and I am unsure how I feel about that.  It was weird.

These sell for $14.75 (box of 30), making 2 packets worth $0.98.

Birchbox May 2014

I had a total value this month of $25.68 with the majority of that value being the lip pencil.

I'm happy with this month's items!  The hits outweighed the misses.

Birchbox costs $10 per month and you get 4-6 sample (and occasionally full sized) items.  You can review each item you receive for 10 BB points, and every 100 points can be redeemed for $10 to spend in their online shop.  This is a great deal!  If you want to try Birchbox, please use my link here.  I'll get some extra BB points for each referral.

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me. This post contains referral links.

Birchbox April 2014

Birchbox April 2014

Birchbox's theme this month was "Rainy Days", and it took extra long to get to me! I normally have my box before the site updates, so it is usually a surprise.  Not this month! I got my box later than usual, so I knew what to expect.

First Look

So, I'm having camera issues with my iPhone :( Sorry!

My idea card was to "try new things like contouring or curling your hair".
I do both of those already, try again.

Shea Terra Organics Rose Hips Black Soap Deep Pore Facial Cleanser

Shea Terra Organics Rose Hips Black Soap

This soap is supposed to fight blemishes and signs of aging.  You apply it, let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse it off.  I have used it twice so far, and it makes my skin feel very, very clean.  Squeaky clean! But, not tight or dry.  I find that really unusual; most of the extra-clean-feeling soaps leave me tight and dry, but this one leaves my skin soft and smooth.  I like it!  Plus, black soap is different from the soaps we are all familiar with. It is the ash of various plants (cocoa pods, etc) mixed with Shea butter and left to saponify in the sun. There aren't any unnatural ingredients in this.

Full size is $16 for 4 fl.oz., the 1 fl.oz. sample is worth $4.

Fekkai Technician Color Care Shampoo

Fekkai Color Care Shampoo

I have not tried this.  I probably won't.  Why? Because it is sulfate-based.  I find it highly discouraging that a shampoo designed for colored hair would contain SLS!  Yeah, yeah, it smells great and leaves your hair soft (according to the reviews)... but seriously?  Sulfates? I don't care how lathery my shampoo gets, I don't want to strip all the oils and color!  Fekkai Fail.


$20 for 8 fl.oz., making the 2 fl.oz. sample worth $5.

Color Club Gala's Gem Collection in Gold Struck

Color Club in Gold Struck

This is a very light pink, with a gold undertone.  It's not very gold in and of itself, so I don't know why they named this "gold struck." The finish is pearly and reflective, bordering on metallic.  I love the color and the idea of the finish... but it is a streaky, globby mess and I hate CC's formula to begin with.  This polish is just terrible!  I couldn't stand to wear it for more than a few hours.

Gross and streaky.  Even the top coat didn't help much.

$13 for the set of 4 colors from BB, making 1 polish (all minis, 0.25 fl.oz.) worth $3.25.

theBalm Cosmetics How 'Bout Them Apples? in Pie

How 'Bout Them Apples?

This is a new product from theBalm, and it is cream-based lip and cheek stain.  The full-sized kit comes with six colors, all with apple-themed names, in a palette.  

Oh, hello.

I got the color "pie" which is a bright pink, that blends out to a natural looking flush.  It's not that bad.  It is on the thinner, greasy side of things, but it isn't super drying like a lot of 2-in-1 products.  

Pie on my lips...
...and contouring. See, BB? I'm way ahead of you.

I like the convenience of this, and the little magnetic case it came in, so it will be good to keep in my purse for touch-ups.  Not my favorite product, but it doesn't suck either.

Pie on my cheeks, too!
I'm wearing the Porridge Duck-backed t-shirt from March Golden Tote :)

The full size looks to be $32 for 20g (3 1/3 g per color), and the sample is not labelled with a mass.  Judging from the size of the pans in the full palette, and the size of the sample, I would estimate 1g of product in the version BB sent, making it worth $1.60.

Kind Healthy Grain Bar in Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt

Kind bar

Oh, Birchbox.  I would so much rather get a foil-packet-product than receive another granola/power/meal replacement bar.  Kind is a good brand, and I will definitely eat this for breakfast at some point this week, but I don't subscribe to BB to try food. This is something I would normally pick up at the supermarket to try.  What I like about BB is that they send new products from familiar brands, or small versions of expensive products that I normally wouldn't buy.  This is not in line with their usual standard, and I get disappointed every time it happens.

This is worth about $0.79

Birchbox April 2014
All Together

Total Value $14.64.  After reviews, I got another $5 worth of point to spend in the BB shop.  This isn't a very high value overall, but it is still worth more than the $10 I paid for it.  I will eat the Kind bar, and I will use up the face soap.  The theBalm product is ok, and I will keep it around.  That's about it.

This was just a mediocre month for me.  I've had worse, but there wasn't anything amazing in this batch of samples.


If you want to try out Birchbox, please use my link here.  It costs $10 per month and your samples are personalized based on a quiz you fill out when you sign up.  You will get 4-6 deluxe, and sometimes full-sized, items from skincare to hair products to makeup.  Each item you receive, you can review for 10 BB points.  Every 100 points gets you $10 to spend in the online BB shop! You also get 50 points for each referral.

No special consideration or compensation was received for this post and all thoughts and opinions are my own. All items mentioned within were paid for by me.

Birchbox March 2014 Review

Birchbox March 2014 Review

Well, it's March.  I set the clocks forward and went out without a jacket yesterday.  Birchbox showed up, and I have some little crocuses popping out of the piles of salt and sand next to my driveway.  It's starting to look like spring!

Birchbox March 2014

As usual, my Birchbox shows up before boxes have updated on their site.  It's a total surprise, and that is fine with me.

First look, March 2014 Birchbox

This month's theme is, "getting more out of everything."  Ok? Sure.

BB Find: Jergens BB Body Perfecting Skin Cream (light)

This is a Birchbox Find: a drugstore product that BB includes in your box, usually along with a coupon.  

Jergens claims that this BB cream for your body will hydrate, illuminate, even, firm, and correct your skin tone.  It comes in two shades, one for light skin and one for medium and deep tones.

It smells good, it is light and warm.  I usually use a tinted lotion on my legs if I wear a skirt or dress (so I don't blind people with my ultra-pasty-ness), and I don't think that this will take its place.  It might even things out with continual use, and continual use of any lotion will keep you hydrated, but I'm just too pale.  

This is a 1 fl.oz. sample, and the full size (7.5 fl.oz.) sells for about $10 at most drugstores.  Sample worth $1.33

GrandCentral Beauty S.M.A.R.T. Skin Perfecting Serum + Primer

I can kinda see how this fits into BB's theme this month.  This all-in-one serum and primer is supposed to hydrate, smooth, act as an anti-aging serum, prime, fill lines, even redness, wipe your butt, etc..

The thing I like most about it, is that it smells like lilacs!  So nice!  It absorbed into my skin really, really quickly, and I ended up using more than I normally would with a comparable product.  My skin does feel pretty smooth, though.  You know what? I like it.  I'll definitely use this!  I haven't tried it under makeup yet, but I am sure it won't be any worse than using no primer at all.

Full-size (50 mL) is $68 on the company's website, making the 6 mL sample worth $8.16.

Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum

I have a full size of this, courtesy of PSMH, and I like it.  I haven't really worn any extra sunscreen lately, just what is in my foundation/BB cream.  But, spring is coming up and hopefully the weather will be brighter and sunnier, and I'll have to start wearing this under my makeup once again.  It's a nice sunscreen, and I definitely recommend it- but I wouldn't go out and spend all that money on it, myself.  If you are sensitive to a lot of chemical sunscreens out there, it might be worth it to try to find a sample.  It has decent ingredients and is very light on the skin.

Full size (50 mL) is $42 on the Supergoop site. 10 mL sample is worth $8.40.

Keims Hair Care- Peppermint & Macadamia Cleanshine Energizing Shampoo

While I haven't tried this shampoo yet, I'm not sure if I am looking forward to it.  There aren't any mineral oils, silicones, or parabens in this formula, and peppermint is always a good shampoo scent.  It doesn't smell overpowering to me, but who knows how it will behave when it's all lathered up.  However, it WILL lather up- the second ingredient is sodium laureth sulfate.  That's too bad; I don't use sulfate-based shampoos on my hair.  My haircolor lasts longer if I don't, and I have found my hair to be less dry after switching to sulfate-free products.

This is fairly affordable, 250 mL for $9.50 on the BB site.  Sample is 50 mL, worth $1.90.

Inika Eyeliner in Green Lagoon

I liked the Inika eyeshadow I received in BB a few months ago, and this color is perfect for complementing that shade!  I really, really like the sharpener in the cap!  I tend to do my makeup in the car, and sometimes I forget to bring my eyeliners in for sharpening and they get too dull to use.

Inika Eyeliner in Green Lagoon

The color on the pencil end cap is exactly the color it shows up on the skin.  The pencil is not too hard, and not too soft.  It's a lighter metallic color, though, so it doesn't pack as much of a punch, even though the pigmentation is pretty good.  Bonus: This is an Organic, Eco-Friendly brand.

Full size, retails for $29 on Inika's site, and $20 on Birchbox.

Total: $39.79

This was a better box than the others I've gotten lately!  I will probably end up giving away the shampoo (because I won't use it) and the sunscreen (because I have a full size), but I like the eyeliner, primer, and lotion.  Factor in the points (10 points = 1$ per review), and this was a decent box.  The points always make it worth it, though!

Birchbox costs $10 per month, and you can sign up using my referral link here.  I'll get 50 BB points per sign up.  For every 100 points you accumulate, you get $10 to spend in the BB site.  Each month BB sends you 4-6 (mostly) sample-sized products.  There is a personalization quiz and a lot of box variations that go out every month.  You cannot skip a month.

All items in this post were paid for by me and all thoughts and opinions are my own.  No special consideration or compensation was received for this post.  This post contains a referal link; see above for details.

Birchbox February 2014

Birchbox Review, February 2014: Collaboration with Us Weekly

Birchbox February 2014

This month, I didn't recognize the red outer packaging in my mailbox, but it turned out to be my February Birchbox!

February 2014 Birchbox First Look

The first look was a little disappointing.  I had no idea what to expect this month, as boxes hadn't updated and I don't watch the sneak peek videos BB posts.

OPI Sheer Tint Top Coat in Be Magentale With Me

We will start with the item that caught my eye.  It's no secret that I love nail polish, so I immediately was drawn to this mini OPI bottle.  It's the same size as you would get in their 4-packs of mini colors, 3.75 mL.  Normal polishes are usually 15 mL, and Julep polishes are 8 mL for a size reference.

This is one of OPI's new sheer tint top coats.  They suggest wearing alone for a sheer wash of color, or over another polish to change up its look.

My poor stained, peeling nails and winter cuticles.
1 coat OPI on index and middle fingers (left two), nothing on ring and pinky (right two) fingers

It's interesting by itself.  1 coat is shown above, and you can probably get it a little darker with 2 or 3 coats, but I think that even with layering on the entire bottle, you could never get this polish opaque.  That's fine, I don't mind sheer polishes to be honest, but I know I'm in the minority.  That being said, I'm really glad I got the pink-tinted variation, and not the green or purple or yellow.  As it is, one coat by itself looks like I did a bad job removing red polish.  I can imaging the yellow tint, alone, looks like you just have the world's most stained nails!

The full bottle of this (15 mL) sells for $9.  3.75 mL is worth $2.25.

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara Sample

I was really surprised to see a Smashbox product in my Birchbox!  I know that they have sent out mid-price brands such as Benefit and Stila, but for some reason this was a pleasant surprise.  I don't think I've tried this particular mascara before, but I have a huge backlog to go through before I open it.  It has a nice, full brush, so that will probably mean a lot of lash definition (no spider lashes/clumps).  

0.38 fl.oz. is $19, making the 0.14 fl.oz. sample worth $7.

eleven skin Refresh Cleanser

Here's where things got weird.  I have never heard of this brand (eleven skin), and it seems that this cleanser is part of their anti-aging skin care regimen.  The cleanser is available for purchase by itself, and it looks like it is $30 for 2 oz on the website (and $42 for 4 oz), but Birchbox has 4 oz for $30.  So, I'm not sure if I'm reading things correctly?  I was sent a 2 fl.oz. bottle.  

This is a thinner gel formula and smells like a generic plant-oil mix.  Top three ingredients are water, TEA-lauryl sulfate, and glycerin.  It looks like a generic cleanser to me.  There are some plant oils thrown in (mostly AFTER "fragrance" on the ingredient list), but nothing stands out to me.  I haven't tried it, yet, though.  Who knows? It may change my life (probably not).

Worth $15 going from BB pricing.

Agave Healing Oil Oil Treatment

Aaaaand, a little cardboard packet of hair oil.  I hate these cardboard samples almost as much as I hate caffeine headaches.  Which is a lot.  Also, this is not a novel product.  It is mostly cyclopentasiloxane (silicone in circle form) and dimethicone (more silicone, not in circle form).  There are some random oils thrown in, including some for scent.  It smells like a combination of cheap bubblegum and dollar-store potpourri. I already have a silicone-based, oil-infused hair product I love (OROFLUIDO!) and have no intention of switching.

On Sephora's site, 40 mL sells for $40, making this absurd packet worth $4.  I'm going to go dump this into a resealable container so I don't spill it all over the place. 

Smashbox Full Exposure Paper Samples

Sigh.  See how fast this box went downhill?  I was sad when I thought there were only 4 samples in my box, but then I opened up the little flyer at the bottom and was even MORE disappointed that BB/ Us Weekly thought that this "sample" would be a good idea.  Seriously?  If I'm careful, I might be able to use this once to get a full look going.  But, a small amount of shadow pressed onto cardboard does not, in my opinion, give you an adequate idea of what the actual palette will be like.  Yes, there are shimmery and matte shades included, in a range of neutral colors, but I would have been more excited about a mini pan of just one shade.  Ugh.

No value.

February 2014 Birchbox

All together, this box had a value of $28.25.  I'm not that excited about anything, just because there wasn't really anything *new* to me.  I already have a perfect-for-me face wash and hair oil.  I have too many mascaras and a sheer polish mini really isn't that exciting.  I'm not even going to mention the eyeshadow.  I'll review these on the BB site for 10 points each (assuming they let me review the shadows) and spend my points on something I actually like.  Remember, 100 points is $10 to spend! 

Birchbox is $10 per month for 4-6 samples.  For every item you get and review, you get 10 bb points.  Buying things from their shop will get you 1 point for every $1.  The point system, and the occasional amazing life-changing product, make this subscription worth it for me.  Even with lackluster boxes, like this month's, I will continue subscribing.  If you want to try it out, please use my code here.  I'll get 50 bb points for each referral.

This post contains items purchased by me.  All thoughts and opinions are my own and no special compensation or consideration was received for this post.  This post contains a referral link; see above for details.