Well, I am back on the Birchbox train! I know I said that I was planning on ditching subscription boxes but I’m the most indecisive person in the world and life started to get really busy….which leads me to where I am today. Oops! 😛 After ditching 90% of my subscription boxes, I started a new job, added a couple of other commitments, and found myself with much less free time than I’d previously had.
I think this just goes to show that subscription boxes are a great fit for certain people, and maybe even at certain points in life! After work started to pick up, I found myself ordering things online instead of visiting stores - which can be quite expensive if you’re trying out new products and are not able to test them out in stores! In the end, I figured if I’m going to be trying product, I should probably be trying out samples instead of buying them full price right off the bat.
Birchbox is a monthly beauty subscription ($10/month or less if you choose a year long subscription) that sends our personalized full-size and sample-size beauty, hair, make-up and skincare products.
Coastal Scents: Blush and Highlighter Duo | Full Size $19.95
This sample from coastal scents is a blush and highlight from one of their contouring palettes. The blush is on the pinkier side and has some beautiful pigmentation. The highlight, on the other hand, was a little too light for me. It might’ve been perfect for someone with fairer skin but for my slightly darker skin, I found that I had to go into the product a couple of times to build up the highlight. I really enjoyed trying this sample but probably won’t be going out to purchase the full-size product.
rms beauty: the ultimate makeup remover wipes | Full Size $16
If you had asked me a couple of years ago how I remove my make-up, I would’ve said vaseline all the way! Now, however, I have become wipe obsessed and am always looking for new wipes that are more effective or gentler on the skin. While these wipes from rms beauty were gentle and did not sting on the skin, they were so oily when I used them that it practically felt like I’d used vaseline to remove it anyway. Plus, at $16 for a full-size 20 wipes, this one’s definitely not kind on the wallet. It was a no-go for me.
Amika: Bombshell Blowout Spray | Full Size $24
I've been using this blowout spray for a couple of days and really haven't noticed much of a difference in my hair! Volume is not something I usually need in my hair - in fact, I’m usually looking for products that tame frizz - so this product just wasn’t a good fit for me.
R+Co: Death Valley Dry Shampoo | Full Size $29
This product came at the perfect time because I’m trying the whole showering at night thing! I’ve owned quite a few dry shampoos in the past and I don’t love the way they feel on my hair. It seems like most of them leave my hair feeling rough and knotty so I’m excited to try out the Death Valley brand and see if this might be a better fit for my hair.
The Beauty Crop: GRLPWR Lips Liquid Lipstick in Imma Bawse | Full Size $14.95
This liquid lipstick was the winner of the box by a mile! It was a little bit drying on the lips but with a beautiful, dark shade like this you really don’t want that color to move AT ALL so I’m more tolerant of the dryness as long as it means the lipstick doesn’t move! This shade is absolutely beautiful and the formula has been extremely long-wearing so I’m very pleased with it!
Featured April Birchbox Products:
For me, this box was kind of middle of the line. Even though I probably won’t be going out to purchase any of the full-size versions of these products, these are all products that I use in my day-to-day life and for me, it’s always interesting to test out products that different brands put out to see how they compare to the things I already use. I’m looking forward to being back on the Birchbox train and being able to test out products before jumping straight in to buying the full-size versions! What did you think of your April Birchbox? Let me know in the comments!
Always Happy in Yellow ☼
Top: Marshall's / Jeans: American Eagle / Shoes: Payless / Earrings: Amazon / Lipstick: Colour Pop
Shop Similar:
In almost any bio I write, I always put that I love all things bright, happy, & colorful - and it’s so incredibly true! Although not so great for my wallet, I’ve been stopping by my local Marshall’s pretty regularly and have ended up bringing home some of the happiest shirts I’ve ever seen in my entire life! I think a lot of them are on sale because they might be a little too obnoxiously happy, but luckily for me, there is no such thing as too obnoxiously happy! :)
I’m easily influenced by the things around me and as a result, I’ve chosen to surround myself with the happiest, most colorful things I can find. I make that a huge priority when it comes to my well-being because I know the influence it can have on my mood, my productivity, and even my thoughts. A colorful yellow shirt may not mean a lot to someone else, but just looking at these colorful photos and the pretty green grass puts a huge smile on my face.
So, if you’re ever having a down day, just remember the impact that your surroundings can have on your well-being - put on a shirt that makes you happy, open all the windows for some fresh air, and play your favorite tune! It'll make your day just a little bit brighter :)
PopSugar Must Have: April 2017
The PopSugar Must Have box is a monthly subscription box ($40/month or less if you make a 3, 6, or year long commitment) that sends subscribers full-size versions of the season's must-have beauty, fashion, and home products!
Morning Culture: Dipped Bamboo Cutting Board - Retail $22
This was the first spoiler item for this month’s box and I was so excited to receive it! I love the simplicity of the design and the way it looks in my kitchen - an often neglected area of the house when it comes to cute decor! The only downfall of this product was that it was a little smaller than I expected it to be. The spoiler photos got me all excited for this full-size wooden cutting board but in reality it’s more of a cute cheese board than anything!
Tonic Australia: Lavender Sachets - Retail $15
When I saw the miniature photo of this product, at first I thought they were throw pillows and got way too excited! Turns out their much, much smaller than that - they’re little hand-size scented satchels that you can place around your home to make things smell nice 😃 Although I’m not the biggest fan of lavender, I think this is a great idea and I plan on using these in my closet to keep my clothes smelling fresh!
The Cottage Greenhouse: Carrot & Neroli Rich & Repair Body Wash - Retail $22
I was pleasantly surprised by this one - it’s a nice body wash/shower oil that feels very luxurious! I’ve thoroughly enjoyed using it on its own and I think it has definitely given a lot more hydration than a standard body wash might. This oil does smell a lot like carrots so if that’s not your favorite smell in the world, this may not be the product for you 😛
Cocolab: Cocofloss - Retail $8 and Pronamel: Toothpaste - Retail $5.99
Naturally, I wasn’t too excited to receive toothpaste and floss in a subscription box as they’re pretty standard, household items - but I also can’t complain. They’ll save me a trip to Target in the near future, I’m sure!
Nourish Snacks: Holy Habanero - Retail $1.99
This was a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan snack that was surprisingly delicious! A little on the small side but still a nice bonus item for the box 😃
Makerskit: Crystal Sand Art Terrarium Kit - Retail $32
This was definitely my favorite product of the box! If you’ve ever been to a Plant Nite event, this Makerskit box is essentially a Plant Nite event in a box. This kit provided all of the materials to create a cute little terrarium decoration - complete with a beautiful crystal to add at the top. It looks absolutely beautiful and makes for a sweet little decoration!
While I was pretty content with everything in this month’s box, nothing really stood out as an absolute must have for me. At the same time, however, there’s nothing in this box that I dislike, so I will definitely be able to find a use for everything I’ve received! What did you think of this month’s PopSugar box? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
