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.

The Week in Nails, September 15

Pink Marble

I did a layer of OPI Do You Think I'm Texy, sponged on a little bit of Essie Bordeaux and Color Club Mod in Manhattan, and then another layer of OPI.  I repeated the sponging and the OPI.  Seche on top.

I wore this for 2 days.

Ruffian Manicure

I got Ruffian's Delirium in my September Birchbox and had to use it immediately! I did a free-hand Ruffian manicure over 2 coats of a no-name silver polish.  No Base, no top.  I did a second coat of Delirium after I took this picture.

I wore this for 2 days.

Duochrome is hidden from this picture

This is Catrice Genius in the Bottle, a gold to greenish-blue duochrome I picked up in Germany last summer.  This is 2 coats, no base or top, and it's still going strong 3 days later.  I'm going to change it tonight just because I'm bored.

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.

Retrospective: Birchbox June 2013

See my first Retrospective for the answers to the quiz that I used.

June 2013: Month 16

Color Club Wanderlust Collection in Reign in Spain (far left)
Photo from Birchbox

I ordered the full set of this polish so fast.  It's awesome, despite how much I usually hate Color Club. Plush, Reign in Spain is my HG coral polish.

Set of 4, $8.  Value of single polish (0.25 fl.oz.) $2.

Davines 3-Step System
Photo from Birchbox

I dislike that BB sent me all three products and I could only review them as a set! Boo! There was a 2.5 fl. oz. bottle of shampoo, which smells amazing but has sulfates; a foil packet (0.41 fl.oz.) of conditioner; and a foil packet (0.1 fl.oz.) of the oil, which I haven't tried yet.  I use the shampoo every now and then just because it smells so good! It reminds me of grapefruit a little bit.  The conditioner was really nice, though.  Very rich.

Shampoo $24 for 8 fl.oz. Sample value $7.50

Conditioner $27.50 for 8 fl.oz. Sample value $1.41

Oi/Oil $41 for 4 fl.oz.  Sample value $1.02

Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser
Photo from Birchbox

 This smells so good! I loved this sample.  It started out as a scrub, but as the sugar melted, it started to foam and turned into a really nice cleanser.  It smelled good enough to eat, but I wouldn't recommend that...not that I tried... not at all... nope.

Full size 4 fl.oz. $32.95.  The sample size was 0.25 fl. oz, worth $2.06

Youngblood Hi-Definition Hydrating Mineral Perfecting Powder in Translucent
Photo from Birchbox

I don't have any comment on this, as I haven't yet tried it.  I'm still using up all my other translucent powders.  It has pretty good reviews, though.

$40 for 0.35 oz., making the 0.017 oz sample worth $1.94.

Total Value  $15.93

This was a decent box overall. I loved the nail polish color and am so glad they sent the one they did! Now I have a backup because I bought the full set.  The other products (that I've tried) were all good and there weren't any weird extras.  I just wish I could have reviewed the Davines products individually!

Birchbox costs $10/month, including shipping and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  You can review the products you receive for 10 Birchbox points each.  For every $1 you spend in the BB shop, you also receive 1 BB point.  For every 100 BB points you accumulate, you get $10 to spend in their shop.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn 50 BB points at the end of your first month.

This post contains products I purchased with my own money.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.

Retrospective: Birchbox February 2013

See my first Retrospective for the answers to the quiz that I used.

February 2013: Month 12

Color Club Nail Color in Wild Cactus
Photo from Birchbox

I received another bottle of this in a recent pick 2 mystery pack.  Apparently, Pantone decided that emerald green was the "color of the year" of 2013, so BB sent this staining, chipping, streaking monstrosity of a terrible brand of polish out to everyone.  (Obviously, there are exceptions to every rule and "reign in Spain" is the exception to CC's sucky polishes.)

Full size $8 for 0.5 fl. oz.  Sample size is 0.25 fl. oz. for a value of $4.

Ghiardelli Square in Milk and Caramel
Photo form Birchbox

This was the "extra" in this month's BB.  I gave it to my boyfriend since my mom brainwashed me into disliking chocolate while I was still in my formative years.  It's a long, sad story, but the bottom line is that I think that I dislike chocolate and will never eat it.  My boyfriend doesn't mind.  They sent 1 square.

I'm going to estimate the value of 1 square at $0.43.   A bag of these goes for about $4.25, but I'm not sure how many squares are in a bag.  10? 

Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips
Photo from Birchbox

This stuff is great! One of the best lip products there is! I knit, so I know how great lanolin can be, even if it is kinda gross in theory.  However, you can buy pure skin-grade lanolin in a much larger size for much less money on Amazon.  Which is what I plan on doing this winter when this sample runs out.

Full size 15 mL for $14.50, making the 3 mL sample worth $2.90

Skin & Co Bagnodoccia Cleansing Body Gel
Photo from Birchbox

This was some olive oil and orange shower gel that smelled pretty terrible.  It smelled like a fancy hotel room should smell, but I don't like that in a body wash.  It's just my personal preference.  I used this up as fast as I could.

Full size $17.50 for 250 mL.  Sample size was 40 mL for a value of $2.80

twistband Headband in dark green
Photo from Birchbox

I also got a twistband brand headband.  I haven't ever worn it, as I don't wear headbands.  I might just untie the knot and cut it in half to make two hair ties from it.  I use those more frequently than never, so that would be good.

These go for $19 for 6 headbands, making each one $3.17

Total Value $13.30

I wasn't thrilled with this box.  The best item was the Dr. Lipp balm, but that was the only good thing in the box this month.  BB really needs to send other brands of nail polish besides Color Club.


Birchbox costs $10/month, including shipping and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  You can review the products you receive for 10 Birchbox points each.  For every $1 you spend in the BB shop, you also receive 1 BB point.  For every 100 BB points you accumulate, you get $10 to spend in their shop.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn 50 BB points at the end of your first month.

This post contains products I purchased with my own money.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.

The week in nails, August 11

Neither of these had names

2 coats of a random dark purple neon from Urban Outfitters (came in a pack of 5 without names on them) and a Nicole by OPI purple, blue, and red glitter that no longer has the name on it either sponged on the tips.  Oh well.  I wore this like shown for 2 days, but then had to repaint three nails on each hand in a dark pink because of chipping.  That stayed for another day. No base, Seche Vite over everything.

Nothing beautiful can stay

I wore this for one afternoon before it started chipping off in large chunks :( I sponged on the colors to make the gradient.  Left to right: Color Club Reign in Spain, Julep Nina, Julep Charlie, Color Club London Calling, Julep Bess, Color Club Pardon my French.

Comments on this in real life included, "WOW your nails are bright"

Color club Reign in Spain for the rest of the week.

Retrospective: Birchbox September 2012

See my first Retrospective for the answers to the quiz that I used.

September 2012: Month 7

Birchbox and Color Club Custom Collection in Tweet Me
Photo from Birchbox

Ugh.  Not only is this a gross chartreuse creme, it is another Color Club polish.  Like all the other polishes I have by this brand it is streaky, chips fast, and needs at least 3 coats.

Full size 0.5 oz for $8, this 0.25 oz sample is $4.

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint in Linen
Photo from Birchbox

Jouer makes a great product, and this is no exception.  I like the matte moisture tint even more than the Luminizing version I received in the March 2013 box.  It has great coverage and isn't too heavy.  This matte version keeps you shine-free all day.  Linen was a little warm for my skin tone, I think Porcelain would have been better.

Full size $38 for 50 mL.  Sample size of 2 mL valued at $1.52

kate spade new york Twirl
Photo from Birchbox

Perfume sample overload! This was before BB added more options into their profile, including the glorious "please don't send me perfume samples more than 6 times a year."  I don't like this one as much as some of the other samples I've gotten.  I did wear it about a week ago and it lasted all day and while it wasn't unpleasant, I did not like the whiffs of it I got throughout the day.  I'll stick to my kate spade handbags, thank you ;)

Full size $80 for 100 mL.  Sample (1.5 mL) value $1.20

LA FRESH Eco Beauty Acetone-Free Nail Polish Remover Wipes
Photo from Birchbox

I've written about my hatred for these before.  I'm not getting worked up about them again.

$9.99 for 20 packets.  Value of 1 worthless packet $0.50

Mighty Leaf Tea in Green Tea Tropical, Chamomile Citrus, and Vanilla Bean
Photo from Birchbox

Green Tea Tropical is seriously my very favorite tea of all time.  I am so glad BB sent these samples to me!  I am also glad that the little coffee shop at the top of campus stocks this brand, so I can have green tea tropical all winter long.  It tastes a lot like Panera's iced green tea, except hot. Delicious.

$9.95 for 15 pouches.  Value of 3 pouches $1.99.  I should just buy these and make my own damn tea.  That wouldn't give me the excuse to leave my office, though...

Vasanti Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator
Photo from Birchbox

I liked this scrub.  It was not gentle, but not like I was rubbing my face in a sandbox.  It also has lasted me up until now, about a year, of using it 1-2 times per month, and I still have a couple uses left.  It doesn't take much!  Nice.  Now I have to hope I get sent another face scrub so I don't go out and buy the full size when I run out!  

$34 for 120 grams, making the 20 gram sample worth $5.67

Total Value $14.88.

This was a mixed bag.  What was good was very, very good, and what was bad was horrid.  Oh well.  I'll give the polish to a friend to paint his fishing lures.  Maybe they will like it more than I do!





Birchbox costs $10/month, including shipping and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  You can review the products you receive for 10 Birchbox points each.  For every $1 you spend in the BB shop, you also receive 1 BB point.  For every 100 BB points you accumulate, you get $10 to spend in their shop.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn 50 BB points at the end of your first month.

This post contains products I purchased with my own money.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.

The week in nails, August 4

I started with Color Club in "he loves me" with Julep Jane as an accent. No base coat, 3 coats CC, 1 coat Jane over 2 coats CC, topped with Seche Vite. 

The problem with CC polishes is that they chip so fast! I got two days out of this before some of my nails got bad enough for me to change the worst of them. 

I did 3 coats of Spoiled "my button fell off" on three nails of each hand (thumb included) and topped them with Seche. 

This lasted another two days. 

I then switched it up completely and did 2 coats of China Glaze "Stone cold" from the Capitol Colors Hunger Games collection. Matte polishes always chip very fast, so I tried to mitigate that by doing a coat of Julep base coat, a coat of Sally Hansen Black Diamond, and then the CG. 

This lasted about an hour before chipping so I sealed the tips and did a French mani with Black Diamond. This lasted 3 days. 

S

Retrospective: Birchbox March 2012

Without any subscription boxes coming in, and with me being too lazy to get off my butt and look though my cabinet to pick something to write a review about, I figured I would go through all my past Birchboxes and do a retrospective review of the products.

Here is what my profile looks like (and has always looked like):

My level of beauty knowledge is: Dedicated enthusiast: I love learning and exploring

I can never have too many: Haircare products, makeup products, nail polishes

For me, fragrance samples are: Not my favorite- please send me no more than 6 fragrance samples per year

I'd love to see more of these types of extras in my Birchbox: Organic and natural products, small acessories 

I am signing up for Birchbox because: I want samples, samples, samples!; I'm looking to experiment and change my beauty routine

My beauty style is: Classic- I err on the side of traditional, think Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn; Low-maintenance- I tend to be pretty natural and don't spend much time getting ready

My hair is: Curly, dry, too short for a ponytail

My hair is closest to: Blonde

I do the following to my hair: Color treat, curl with a curling iron, straighten with a flat iron, always let it air dry- why mess with nature?

My ethnicity is: White or caucasian

My skin tone is: Fair

My complexion is best described as: Normal

I am most concerned about: Cellulite, hyper-pigmentation or dark spots, sun protection

My day of birth is: 1987

Birchbox has you fill out this profile, and whether or not they take it into consideration when they send products is another thing all together.

March 2012
This was my first month with Birchbox, and I didn't really know what to expect.  I ended up with two products that are still in my top 5.

Color Club Classic Nail Polish in He Loves Me (left)
Photo from Birchbox

I hate color club polish and this one started it.  It's a pretty color, but it's streaky as all get-out, chips easily, and needs 3 coats.  Ugh.  For $8, I'll buy Essie or OPI.

Full size $8 for 0.5 fl.oz. (save your money), 0.25fl.oz. sample value $4

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint in Golden
Photo from Birchbox

 This was great.  I used up the sample and wished that it was bigger, or that I had enough money for the full thing.  I just wish that I had gotten "Pearl", the lightest shade- of which I ended up receiving a deluxe sample size in another subscription service.  "Golden" would be fine for me in the summer, but not in March when I'm translucent.

Full size $38 for 50 mL. Sample value (I think it was 2 mL?) $1.52

Orofluido Elixir aka Mystical Hair Potion of the Gods
Photo from Birchbox

 See my link to the top 5 for my review of this.  It's awesome.  It makes you hair look and smell awesome.  I love it.  You will love it.  End of story.

Full size $29.99 for 100 mL.  Sample size 5 mL (I believe), value $1.50

Stila Smoky Eye Shadow Trio
Photo from Birchbox

 This came on a cardboard postcard and was the dinky little plastic-covered sample pressed onto the paper backing.  Not a little mini version or anything, just the stuff you get sent to you in magazine inserts sometimes.  I was able to swipe them on my hand and that's it.  Not very useful if I can't create a look with it!

Full size, $49 for 0.9 oz (all three).  Sample value $0.

Harvey Prince Ageless, the perfume that converted me into a perfume-wearer
Photo from Birchbox

Again, see my top 5 for a review of this.  It smells unlike any other perfume I've ever smelled and I love it.  It's just... me.

$98.00 for 100 mL.  Sample value (assuming it was a standard 1.5 mL), $1.47

Tea Forte Skin Smart Teas in Cherry Marzipan, Honey Yuzu, and Cucumber Mint
Photo from Birchbox

Birchbox included one of each of their flavors, and I found that I really liked them all.  I don't like herbal teas, but these were more fruity than anything.  The honey yuzu (which is a kind of citrus) was my favorite, with the cherry marzipan (almond) close behind.

Full size $6 for 16 bags.  Value of 3 bags is $1.12.


Total Value $9.61

This is less than the $10 I paid, but with the 60 points from the 6 reviews, which equates to $6 to spend in the Birchbox shop, it worked out.  Considering how much I loved the perfume and Orofluido, it remains one of my favorite boxes to date.  Isn't that the point of a subscription box service? To find things you love and can't live without? I think so, and I think Birchbox and I got off to a great start!



Birchbox costs $10/month, including shipping and sends you a box of 4-6 samples and sometimes full-sized products.  You can review the products you receive for 10 Birchbox points each.  For every $1 you spend in the BB shop, you also receive 1 BB point.  For every 100 BB points you accumulate, you get $10 to spend in their shop.  If you would like to sign up, my link is here and I will earn 50 BB points at the end of your first month.

This post contains products I purchased with my own money.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.  This post contains a referral link, see above for details.

What's in a Birchbox Mystery Pick Two Pack?

When you spend over $35 on Birchbox, you can pick out a Pick Two Sample Pack for free.  You can also buy them for $10, but that doesn't seem as good of a deal to me.  The duos vary throughout the year, and you can either pick a certain pair or opt for a "Mystery Pack."

None of the pairs really interested me when I placed my last order, so I decided to go out on a limb and chose the mystery pack.  I'm sure that what I got is not what everyone who picked this option received, but it can give you an idea of what to expect.

Ta-da! Mystery Pick Two Sample Pack from Birchbox.

I ended up with a 30 mL sample of Alessandro Cream Rich Hand!Spa Age Complex Regenerating Hand Cream with Pearl Protein Extract and Hyaluronic Acid, as well as a Color Club mini in Wild Cactus.

The full size of the hand cream is 100 mL and retails for $30 on Birchbox.  The sample value is $9.

The nail polish is part of Color Club's Fiesta collection and the full size, 0.5 oz is $8. The sample value is $4 (0.25 oz).

The hand cream smells like a Yankee Candle store.  I can't put my finger down on the scent, it just smells like a mix of everything, but not in an overpowering or unpleasant way.  It is very nice and isn't greasy at all.  Just a very rich hand cream with a very light, very unobtrusive scent.

Unfortunately, I had received a sample bottle of Wild Cactus in my February 2013 box.  It's a pretty color, but it stains.  I also don't like Color Club as a brand, in general.  I find that their polishes chip much faster than other, similarly priced, polishes such as Essie or OPI.

This is from February, when I received Wild Cactus for the first time.  Don't mind the mess on my cuticles.  It matched my shirt, though!

Just because this is what I received in my Mystery Pick Two Sample Pack, that doesn't mean it is what you will get!  I do want to note that neither of these items were listed in any of the other packs (there was a different color club polish in one of them, though).  The hand cream was a nice surprise and I will be able to give the duplicate polish as a gift... along with a nice base coat!

This post contains products that I purchased with my own funds.  No compensation was received for this post and all opinions are my own.