April’s Birchbox theme circles around “Rainy Days” and using them as an excuse to hole up inside trying out beauty samples. (Who are they kidding, I spent a sunny weekend swatching my nail polish collection so this girl does not need any excuse to spend quality time with beauty products.) Let’s jump in and see what Birchbox has sent me.
Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner in Silver
(Full Size Retail: $16.00)
Description: “These creamy pencils glide on velvety-smooth, and the smudge-proof formula lasts all day.”
Verdict: Like
Birchbox actually sent me an email giving me a choice of black or silver. I opted for the silver because I rarely wear black liner since it tends to make my super pale skin look even paler. When I swatched it, this liner went on smooth and didn’t smudge at all. I prefer gel and liquid liners, but the consistency of this pencil was quite nice. I’m not sure how often I’ll use it, but it’s something fun to experiment with. I really would have loved this in a charcoal gray or dark green.
Color Club Polish in Aquamarine
(Full Set of 4 Polishes: $13.00)
Description: “…Gala Gonzalez…the Spanish-born blogger, stylist, and DJ teamed up with Color Club to launch this four-piece nail polish collection. Perfect for spring, these pastel hues are inspired by the retro lacquers of the 70s and 80s, complete with a luxe pearl finish. Paired with on-trend, opaque color, the results are both modern and sleek.”
Verdict: Like
I like the idea of a company pairing off with a blogger to create a collection as it seems this could create a lot of unique, fun trends. I liked the aquamarine shade I received and the application went on smoothly on the swatch. I will probably end up wearing this underneath some fun topcoats (like Julep’s Max.).
Keims Cleanshine Energizing Shampoo
(Full Size Retail $9.50)
Description: “This refreshing cleanser has peppermint leaf extract to boost circulation in the scalp, stimulating healthy hair growth. The formula causes a delightful cooling sensation on the scalp. Macadamia nut nourishes weak hair for touchable softness and shine, while silk protein works to strengthen strands and repair damage.”
Verdict: Hit!
Part of why I decided to subscribe to Birchbox was to try out lots of hair products. I have scalp issues so I’m happy to try out this product and see if it helps. I also appreciate that we got a generous size so we can get a few uses out of it.
KIND Healthy Grain Bars – Maple Pumpkin Seeds w/ Sea Salt
(15 count: $11.88)
Description: “Sweet or salty? Don’t worry, KIND won’t make you pick a favorite. These wholesome snack bars are the ideal mix of both flavors (and, of course, they’re also nonGMO and gluten-free).”
Verdict: Hit!
I know a lot of folks don’t like getting food samples, but I enjoy them. This bar made a great work breakfast and was quite tasty. I have added them to my “snacks for work” shopping list although I’ll probably try one of the flavors that include fruit.
Nyakio Trio
Kenyan Coffee Face Polish(Full Size Retail $34.00)
Description: “The coffee extract and jojoba oil in this scrub buff away dull skin. But unlike some exfoliators, this gentle formula isn’t drying: Neroli, lemongrass, and macadamia oils provide intense moisture for smooth, dewy skin.”
Kenyan Coffee Body Scrub(Full Size Retail $55.00)
Description:”The blend of Kenyan coffee beans and nourishing oils exfoliates and hydrates, leaving skin renewed and ready for the day ahead: Think of it as skincare’s version of espresso.”
Hydrating Face Oil With Kola Nut(Full Size Retail $49.00)
Description:” Just a few drops of the lightweight formula, a blend of eight oils and the African kola nut, last a full 12 hours. Its powerful hydration keeps our skin looking more luminous, even, and youthful all day long.”
Verdict: Like
I enjoy trying out new scrubs and I’m completely intrigued with the face oil, but the size on this is just annoying to me. I really would prefer to get just one of the items with a sample size big enough for a few uses so we can really decide if we like the product – especially products with a price point as high as these.
OVERALL
Verdict: Hit!
This box had a lot of interesting items in it and I will use all of them. My only real complaint was with the size of the nyakio samples, but the rest of the box still made up for it.
With tax I paid $10.70 and after reviewing each item, my points got me the equivalent of $7.00.
What did you get in your Birchbox? How do you feel about the food samples? Yeah or Nay?
THE BACKSTORY
Birchbox subscriptions cost $10 per month or $110 per year.
Your options: Women’s Box or Men’s Box
Points System:
Whenever you buy something at Birchbox they give you Birchbox points. $1.00 = 1 Birchbox Point.
Each 100 Birchbox reward points can be redeemed for $10.00.
You can also earn points by reviewing the samples they send you (10 points per sample) and referring/subscribing friends. If your review all the items you receive in your box each month, you’ll receive 50 Birchbox rewards points!
If you purchase a full size of one of the sample items they sent you in that same month, you receive free shipping on them and extra points.
Lisa Preziosi 