★ March Birchbox Unboxing ★

★ March Birchbox Unboxing ★

Birchbox is a monthly beauty and lifestyle sample box for $10.88 monthly.

Ships to: U.S., France, Spain, UK, and Canada.

Each month, subscribers have one of three options to choose from.

You can choose the featured box: You see everything that will be in the box

You can choose the single sample: You pick one sample to be in your box and the rest are random

You can choose the random: Don't do anything and everything is a surprise/random

You take a quiz when you subscribe to help steer your items to your tastes.

You can review the items that were in your box for points. Each item is worth 10 points in the Birchbox store. $5 in store is 50 Birchbox points.

Every month, Birchbox lets subscribers pick between a curated box (all samples revealed) or a single sample choice and be surprised by the rest of the items. This review is of the sample choice box.

Each box comes with a card that has the monthly theme and a list of the contents. It also has the price of the items and a little blurb about the item and/or how to use it.

The only products with any sort of seal is the sample and the face wash.

1. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Fresh Cut Treatment - Luxury Size - 1oz for $7.05 (Full Size 3.4oz $24)

Awesome! This has to be the first time I'm excited to get a product. I do not get to the salon often enough for trims. I have a serious split end problem. I wonder if this is just a smoothing cream or actual does any repair?

(Couldn't find a LivingProof Website so claims are from Birchbox)

Website Claims:
For all hair types

Lightweight
Instant-zip technology that heals/seals split ends by aligning hair fibers
Makes hair look fresh trimmed

Hair is healthier
Extend hair cut time
Use on Dry or Damp hair

2. The Balm Cosmetics Stainiac - Luxury Size - 0.04 oz for $2.27 (Full Size 0.3 oz $17)

Below: Natural lips without any product

Below: One coat of this product

 Below: Two coats of this product

Below: Far away look at the 2 coats

Below: Sticky

Below: One swipe swatch (wet)

Below: One swipe swatch (dry)

I love all lip products but liquid lipsticks and stains are my favorites. My first impression: Disappointment.

Formula: Gel - which is nice.

Texture: Sticky - Dries but doesn't lose it's stickiness which is off putting

Taste: Bad - There is no real flavor but when my tongue touches it....it feels burny. lol
Color: 1 coat is a nice super subtle color but 2 is extremely PATCHY. It doesn't look too badly from far away but.. you can tell.

Website Claims:

Lip and Cheek Stain (no.. lol I would NEVER put this on my cheeks. Ew)

Hint of Tint

No streaks (fail)

Aloe-infused

Gel-based

3. Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris - Sample Size - 2ml for $3.20 (Full Size 50ml for $80)

I actually already own this product as you can see above. The left product is the new one (the larger spray bottle is what I received in a boxycharm box)

I don't like getting perfumes because I can only wear natural oils without my lungs burning, coughing, asthma attacks, etc. 

This has a powerful scent and seems to last decades. I haven't wore it yet and I probably won't be though. TI sprayed the packaging and it still smells of the perfume days later.

Scent (according to website): Oriental with fun fruits

Italian Mandarain, rube red grapefruit, nashi pear

Orange blossom, sweet jasmine, fresh gardenia

Amber and musk

I like the scent but it is overwhelmingly strong. If I could dab a little on it would be nice.

4. NER:D Skincare Miraculous Brightening Clarifying Face Cleanser - Luxury Size - 15ml for $3 (Full Size 100ml for $20)

I love face washes.. I have bad pores, acne scars, and an uneven skin tone. I need this. I didn't know it existed. I hope that it works. It is ONLY $20 for the full size... I'm pretty sure I'll buy the full size of this and see if it works long term!

(Couldn't find a LivingProof Website so claims are from Birchbox)

Website claims:
Soapfree

Formulated with yogurt, vit E, and fatty acids (to balance oil not strip)

Purifies pores

soothes acne scars

reduces sun damages

even skin tone every time

Ingredients naturally sourced and proven to retain moisture

fresh/healthy glow

 5. Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate (For Face) - Sample Size - 1ml for $2.23 (Full size 30 ml for $67)

I also really love serums. This box is great so far! Ha ha. I really love... eyeliner, mascara, polish, lipstick and face products. lol I wish this wasn't a SAMPLE. There is no way I could determine if I like this over what I currently use.

$67 is MIGHTY pricey for a serum... and this isn't enough of a sample to convince me unfortunately I can already tell

Website Claims:

Bulgarian rose water, aqua in pool (wah?) and yeast (to protect, strengthen, and maintain healthy LOOKING skin...not to be confused with actual healthy skin. loljk)

Gingko biloba leaf extract, shiso and thyme (hmm..)

all skin types

4 weeks - firmness and resilience are improved which makes wrinkles less visible

Dermatologist tested

88%-want to continue using this product

87%- Feel skin become strong

80%-Want to add this product to their current facial skincare regimen

6. Shiseido Ultimune Eye Power Infusing Eye Concentrate - Luxury Size - 5ml for $21.66 (Full Size 15ml for $65)

Yes! I've never had an eye serum help my under eyes.. but I love applying them. I love it. No idea why. It is my favorite step. This product is meant to be followed by an eye cream. Two step EYE care? I'm FOR it!

Website Claims:

Everything the same as the face serum above except:

New Imumoisture extract that helps strengthen the delicate eye area

EXTRA: Eyeko Fat Liquid Eyeliner - Full Size - $18

I signed up for Birchbox after cancelling my Boxycharm. I saw this box and wanted it and ALMOST used the $5 (50pts) to spend in the Birchbox store when you sub code (SUBSCRIBENOW50) but I chose to get this instead with my first box using the (EYEKOGIFT) Code. 

 I wanted a new marker liquid liner and this one is an $18 value! That pays for the BOX. lol

This is NOT waterproof. I tested this on my hand.. it comes right off with moisture. Easy.

Website Claims:

Easy-to-use/easy-to-handle

long lasting

smudge-proof (true..I ran my finger across this seconds after and it was dry and didn't smudge)

budge-proof

rich color (carbon black) blackest black

contains algae extract making it nourishing/conditioning

glides

Below: It came in this baggie on top of the normal box items.

Total spent for the bag: $10.88

Without Liner:

Total bag is worth: $39.41

Total saved:$28.53

With Liner:

Total bag is worth: $57.41

Total saved: $46.53

Even without the liner I'm excited about 3 out of 6 of the products in this box. I'm reserving judgment for the stain and split end hair product. The perfume I will pass on completely because I have it of course. Ha ha.

There will be a review of this box at the end of April's Birchbox!

Thank you so much for following along

☼☼ March Boxycharm Unboxing + February Review ☼☼

☼☼ March Boxycharm Unboxing + February Review ☼☼

Boxycharm is a monthly beauty subscription box that sends 4-5 full-size beauty/makeup products.

I was not given this box. All opinions are my own. Based off my preferences! :D

Cost: $21 per month (FREE SHIPPING!)

My referral link

https://www.boxycharm.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/38747/

They only ship to 48 U.S. states. (They don't ship to Hawaii or Alaska yet.)

1. Luxie Rose Gold Small Contour Brush #512 - Full Size - $16

As you can see below I have two Luxie brushes already (the 504 and 211) This new 512 is a shinier finish with glitter! Click on the picture below to compare the finishes. I like these pink brushes and their synthetic bristles. The brand is cruelty free, vegan, paraben free, and coated with an antibacterial solution. I adore them. More plz!

2. Chella Eyebrow Color Pencil in "Tantalizing Taupe" - Full Size - $18

A very fine tipped eyebrow penicl in the perfect shade to my brows. I hope everyone got a usable color. On their website they have 6 shades available 

Beautiful Blonde and Awesome Auburn being rare colors in eyebrow pencils... I hope they were sent out too. Although I don't know how they would have distributed that.

 Unfortunately, I think only this color is sold separately from their eyebrow kits. (Which are $54 and come with the pencil, gel, a highlight pencil, and a sharpener)

This pencil is mechanical, creamy, easy to use forward and backward. Look at how SMALL that line is without pressure or trying to go back over it.

.

Packaged in tear-away shrink wrap

3. Ofra Body Illuminizer Charmer - Full Size without pump - $34.95 (with pump $39.95)

I have a medium skintone and I have no interest in being darker (or lighter to be honest) but I thought I'd see how it looked. Nothing happened. Ha ha. I put a whole bunch on one arm and compared and you could see no difference (which is why I didn't include the useless picture). 

What you COULD tell was that my left arm looked like it had been dipped in a vat of glitter. I couldn't get a great picture of the sparkle. I made the photo darker... so below if you click on the pic of my hand and zoom in... you can see the fine glitter covering me. It is 100% noticeable. lol I would never wear this... as a 30 year old. I'll be passing it along to a friend or family member.

Unscented lotion scent

Safety seal was not tampered with

4. Makeup Geek Eye Shadow Pan in "Cocoa Bear" $6 

This is a matte reddish brown shade that didn't seem that pigmented to me. I like the color and it wasn't difficult to build. I'm happy this company is cruelty-free, talc free, and paraben free. 

These are also affordable if you have a zpalette to put them in. I do not. These are my first container free pan shadows. I feel it inconsiderate of boxycharm to send us these which essentially forces people to buy zpalettes to place them in.

I consider these 100% deluxe sizes because of that. The packaging isn't suitable to keep them in 24/7 thus...deluxe in my opinion. I have already taken them in and out of the packaging only twice and already I dug the lid flap into the top of one of them. Thus.. I'm forced to pass these ON or buy a zpalette. Irritating to say the least. 

Especially... as boxycharm sent me a banana powder in the same type of packaging from ofra last month. I know have three of these. (At the bottom of the post before the review of last months I address contacting boxycharm, their response, and what will be happening in the future)

In the picture below it is the package on the right.

In the picture below it is the swatch on the left.

5. Makeup Geek Duochrome Eye Shadow Pan in "Mai Tai" $6

This is an apricot with orchid reflects (is how it is described on the website)

In my opinion this is a shimmery peach with blue/violet notes that duochromes to a yellow brownish gold. It is simply ...beautiful. I adore this shadow.

I felt it was more pigmented than the matte but I expect mattes to be tougher than shimmers in general.

 Again, I'm happy this company is cruelty-free, talc free, paraben free, and affordable.

For the same reasons above I feel as though I need a zpalette to keep this! The cheapest I could find is $14.99.

In the photo below the package is on the left.

In the photo below the swatch of this shade is on the right. 

Just..look at it. Lovely. I didn't even MEAN to take a picture with it displaying the duochrome halves. It just natural shifts. So beautiful. I can't wait to wear it.

6. Catherine Malandrino Style de Paris - Deluxe Size - 10ml $16 (Full Size 50ml $80)

Clearly a deluxe size, no question about that. I don't like getting perfumes because I can only wear natural oils without my lungs burning, coughing, asthma attacks, etc. 

This has a powerful scent and seems to last decades. I haven't wore it yet and I probably won't be though. TI sprayed the packaging and it still smells of the perfume days later.

Scent (according to website): Oriental with fun fruits

Italian Mandarain, rube red grapefruit, nashi pear

Orange blossom, sweet jasmine, fresh gardenia

Amber and musk

I like the scent but it is overwhelmingly strong. If I could dab a little on it would be nice.

Total spent for the bag: $21

Total bag is worth: $96.95

Total saved: $75.95

Full size: Brush and Eyebrow Pencil
Part Full size: Bronzer (without pump)
Deluxe samples: 2 eyeshadows and the perfume.

If you want the whole emails I can post them but...
I wrote to boxycharm and told them "I didn't want the items revealed to me for understandable reasons" but that I would LIKE at least some reassurance that there would be 4-5 full size products in Aprils box like they SAY I'm paying for.

I don't like or dislike these products any more than any other boxycharm box but I don't have to pay $21 a month for them.

Their response was:

My response was:

To send them a screenshot from their own website. Unless I get a satisfactory response to this email, I will be cancelling before Aprils box. I'll go with a birchbox and a second ipsy rather than being subtly deceived out of no where.

FEBRUARY REVIEW
1. Beauty For Real Blush (in coral crush) + Glo Highlight (in Hi Beam) Duo - Full Size - $24

These are pretty and blendable but the scent is overpowering (why is anything but perfume scented!)

2. Spongellé You Have My Heart On a String Body Wash Buffer + Polish - Full Size - $15

This is wayyyyy to scratchy for my sensitive skin on the SOFT side. I used it on my legs but it was torture. The scent is nice but I found it too cloying.

3. Shray Boxycharm Limited Edition - Ms. Amazing Gift Kit - $12

Loved this mask! I love masks in general.. but I've never seen a difference after using any of them. Still happy to have it.

4. Ofra Cosmetics Banana Powder Godet - Full Size - $12

This was way too dark for my skin tone (even though I'm a medium/light) I'm not sure what I'll do with it. Maybe a random eyeshadow?

5. RealTree Perfume - Deluxe Size - 10ml $12 (Full Size 100ml $24.99)

Terrible scent. I'll be passing this one along (with the new one they just sent me)

6.  Freeze 24-7 Anti-Aging Eye Serum - Deluxe Size - 0.23 oz $54.76 (Full Size 0.50 oz $115)

Love this! Again... like masks.. I love using eye serums. I noticed it helped my eyes a bit though but it stings after awhile. It comes out really fast though so I was super careful to just dab it out and use that amount.

2 Full size

4 Deluxe Sized

I let this pass for this box but again for both Feb and March.. is too much for me. Now they are trying to email me that they have ALWAYS done Full/Luxury? No.

Thank you so much for following along.