Blogmas day 2: November Birchbox review

I have watched Youtube videos for about two years now and have noticed how beauty boxes have become more popular over the years and they have become my favourite thing to watch.  I like to see what samples and full size products they get.  From brands I have heard of to brands I have never heard of, from high end brands to those you can get at the drug store,I have always wanted to get my hands on some of the brands.  So this is the whole reason why I decided to delve into the phenomenon called beauty boxes.

There are many different kinds of beauty boxes, Glossybox, Birchbox to name a few and so when I watched the November Birchbox unboxing I knew I had to have it.  And with an email from them ( I had already created an account waiting for January to come) I got an email with a £5 off my first box, I knew I had to take full advantage of the offer so I ordered one straight away.

Another reason why I got the November box was because I wanted to sample the box before committing to a years subscription as if I didn't like it or it wasn't for me then I would waste my money.

I was pleasantly surprised to find I really enjoyed opening the box and looking at all the brands I had only heard of and never actually been able to sample or buy them.

The concept of beauty boxes is simple.  Birchbox.co.uk says "Birchbox delivers luxe beauty and lifestyle samples every month, hand-picked just for you!"  And I agree with them  They have three different subscriptions; the monthly box where you pay £10 plus p&p, A six month subscription where you pay £50 and pay p&p each month or the twelve month subscription where you pay £90 plus p&p each month.

In each box you get 5 products ranging from small sample sizes to full size products.  You also get a lifestyle product which are usually sample sizes.  The box is a simple brown and cream box that occasionally changes depending on what they occasion is or if someone has designed the box.  The November box was their signature brown box.  Inside the box is some cards, some welcoming me to the Birchbox community and some with hints and tips printed on the back of some nice pictures which I will be putting up on my dorm walls. Amongst the cards was a list of products I got and how much they are full sized.

Now onto my box.  Like I said above I was very happy with my box this month and I hoping that this will continue when I purchase the twelve month subscription.  Inside my box was six items, five beauty related and one lifestyle.  I am going to describe them in order of what is on my card and describe my reaction and thoughts on them.  Some products I have tried already and some I have yet to sample.







Disclosure:  I am not being paid to review this product and have not been sent this item for free.  All thoughts are my own and I have paid for this out of my own money.  

My first product is a nail product.  Reverence de Bastien Top Coat.  The price of this is £16 full size and in the box, they have included a full size product.  I have yet to try this but have been on the hunt for a new top coat as my old one is getting kind of gross.  There will be an individual review on this later.



The next product is a haircare product.  Beauty Protector Protect & Treat Hair Mask.  The cost of this product full size is £16 and in the box I got two small sample size tubs filled to the top with the hair mask.  I had my hair cut short in September as I wanted to reinvent myself as I was starting university and starting my new life so a hair cut was in order.  I was told by my hairdresser that my hair was a combination of oily at the roots and dry down the shaft and my ends.  She put a hair mask on and the results was amazing.  I was told to use a hair mask from time to time but I have never gotten around to finding one so I was pleased to see that I had been sent a hair mask sample and I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really liked it.  The smell was amazing and the card says "...this luxurious mask packed with argon oil, honey, amber and crushed pearls"  The texture of the hair mask is very thick but once it hits the water it thins down into a nice, spreadable consistency.  I left it on my hair for a good 15 minutes and once I had washed it off, I noticed a difference immediately.  My hair felt smoother and softer and that was while my hair was damp!  Once my hair dried, my hair felt healthier and smoother.  I would definitely buy this product full size!



Another product I was curious to learn to use was the Lord & Berry bronzer in Sienna.  The price of this in full size is £19 and they included in the box a small sample.  I haven't used this product yet but have swatched it as when I looked into the pan, it looked a bit too dark for my pale skin tone but once I swatched it, I found that it could be the perfect bronzer for me to experiment with as I have never used bronzer before.



Another full size product that was included (yes we was all spoilt this month with full size products) was a lip balm.  Pixi by Petra Shea Butter Lip Balm is a brand I have never heard of before or seen in any shops.  The price of this full size lip balm is £8 and it is a nice tinted lip balm which give a nice red colour pay off.  It leaves my lips feeling soft and smooth especially in this cold, harsh weather Britain has at the moment.  I think I might have to stock up on this at some point if I can't find somewhere that sells it near me.



I know I said I was going to describe things in order but I feel that the lifestyle choice is not a good product so I am going to talk about that one first.  The lifestyle choice this month in my box is a packet of six capsules called Drinkwel.  It is a multivitamin which is described as a product to use before and after a night of drinking alcohol.  I don't drink alcohol that much and when I drink it is large quantities, I am fortunate enough not to suffer the next morning.  I will however, be trying this out on New Years eve/day as last year I was a bit worse for wear so I may do an individual review in the near future.



I went a bit make-up crazy in September and spent a crazy amount of money of items that some would think I didn't need but I felt that I could justify the items I bought.  One of which was a new foundation (review to follow) and after a few weeks of wearing it I found that it clung to my pores and dry areas and even after getting a new moisturiser, it still wasn't right.  I was in need of a primer and didn't want to be spending lots of money on primers that might not work on me so when I opened the box to find a Dr. Jart+ Pore Refine Recover Primer, I screamed a little inside.  I was so happy that I was given it and although I haven't had chance to try it fully, I swatched a little on my hand and I feel that a little goes a long way.

I have heard that Dr. Jart+ is new to the UK and new to Birchbox (the gave everyone a full sized Dr. Jart+ product) the price for the full size product is £18.  I will have an individual review later.  I am very excited to see how this product fairs.



All in all this box lived up to my expectations and have decided I am going to get the twelve month subscription so expect more unboxings to come in 2015.  Speaking of 2015,  I cannot believe how fast this year has gone.  I started University in September and am already a sixth of the way through my degree.  Graduation is slowly creeping up and I know that it is two and a half years away but if this semester has flown by then the next two and a half years will come faster than I want it to.

I think that is it for now.  Keep a look out for Blogmas day 3 and if you have any suggestions on what I can include throughout Blogmas or for any other blog post, feel free to comment below.

Bye for now.

Jess. x