Birchbox First Impressions & Review | June Box

If you've seen my past Youtube videos, then you'll know that I used to be subscribed to Glossybox. In fact, in past blog posts as well, you will be able to see boxes I'd got from them. I had loved being subscribed to Glossybox, but in the end I cancelled my subscription because I felt that I was getting the same old brands and similar products, and I was never using anything I got. 
After cancelling my subscription, I missed getting my monthly surprise goodies. So I looked into trying out a different box. After much researching, I came across Birchbox, who admittedly is very similar to Glossybox. I had seen videos of guru's and their Birchboxes on Youtube, and the products looked more to my taste - so I decided to get a subscription with them and I got my first box today! 

So a little bit about the box before I show you what I got. Birchbox is a monthly subscription box which costs £10 plus £2.95 p+p. I didn't have to pay postage for this box as being a new subscriber to the box, I had a code that meant I got it for free. I believe that code is no longer in use, but if you check their website, they might have codes go up in the future. You can also buy full sized makeup from the Birchbox website which is really cool as they usually have special offers on products. Check out the Birchbox website here - https://birchbox.co.uk/

In your box you get 4-5 samples, as well as a card with relevant information about your boxes theme and the products contained, and also a mini magazine containing more info on your products and how to use them. 

I did also get a little welcome card (as you can see in the picture above) which I thought was lovely, as it gave me all the relevant information I need to know about my subscription & box.
When you get your box delivered, it comes in an outer box (which keeps your box inside safe), and then inside you have your box. The products contained in the box are inside a little drawstring bag which is ever so cute, and I like that the main box is of an easily recyclable material, unlike the Glossybox's which were quite bulky and in general, too nice to throw away!!

I like that I can keep my products in the little bag until I get around to using them. It is very handy indeed!

So now onto what products I got!!
On the Birchbox website, you can personalise a profile, so you get the choice of products you will like each month. For this months box I cheated, because I ordered it after it had been released, so I pretty much knew what I was going to get. But normally the box will be a surprise each month - which is the best bit!

In my box I got 5 samples, plus an extra free gift! This months box has the theme of Global strikers - in other words, the world cup football on at the moment!

The one item that caught my eye was the Beautyblender! I was over the moon when I saw this in my box, as I have wanted to buy it for ages! The Beautyblender itself is worth £26, and the box only cost me £10 - bargain! I was going to buy this a few months back and I am so glad I didn't. You also get a little soap with the Beautyblender too, so you can clean it. I am very excited to try this out!

Next I got a little miniature OPI nail polish which is from the Brazil collection. The full collection is worth £11.95. My colour is a goldy yellow with shimmer, which is not a colour I would usually go for, but it's still pretty and I will use it.

The next product is the Caudalie Vinoperfect day perfecting fluid. This is a 10ml sample and the full size would be £38. I have recently got into trying new skincare, so this moisturiser looks interesting to try out, as I have never tried anything from Caudalie before.

One product that I will always get use out of is body lotion. So to get a 30ml sample of the Naobay body radiance lotion, makes me happy indeed! The full size of this is £14. It has shea butter, olive and avocado oils in it, and it smells lovely and lemony! I think I will enjoy using it!

Another brand I'm always excited to see products from is The Balm. I got a little sample of the 'How 'Bout Them Apples?' cheek & lip cream. This costs £26 for the palette, and the sample shade I got was 'Pie'. It is a gorgeous pinky/peach/orange colour, and feels soo buttery. I love products from The Balm.

And finally, I got a little extra gift, which is a Birchbox flip flop keyring - very cute!!

Overall I am so impressed with my box. Obviously I did have an idea what I was going to be getting but I am happy with the variety of items I received. With Glossybox I always ended up getting mostly skincare and haircare items, and maybe one makeup item. I prefer to have makeup mostly and a couple of either skincare & haircare products. With the special profile you fill in on the website, it helps to choose the right products for you. But with Glossybox, even though they had a similar profile thing on their website, I never got anything I liked. Hopefully Birchbox will continue to be as good as it is at the moment, and I am already super excited to receive my next box!

I was going to do an unboxing video for this box, but seeing as I knew what my items might be, I've decided I'll skip that until next time. Keep tuned on my Youtube channel for when that video goes up next month!

If you have a subscription with either Glossybox or Birchbox, let me know what you think of your boxes! x

My current favourite skincare products!

Hello all!
Today I thought I would continue on with my posts on my current favourite products, and today it is my favourite skincare products!

Garnier Moisture Match (Wake Me Up) Gel:
Garnier brought out a few months ago their moisture match range of creams. They also gave you the chance to sample all of the available types for free if you requested a sample pack on their website - which I did!! I always have so much trouble when it comes to creams for my face as they usually break me out if they are too heavy or greasy/oily. But this one I got is a gel one, and it was the only one out of the samples I could get on with! It's called Wake Me Up, and it really does wake you up in the morning! I love the fact that this product is a gel formula and it doesn't linger on my skin. It absorbs really quickly into my skin and leaves me feeling fresh faced and wide awake! I love to use this once a week for a pick me up, when my skin is feeling dry and needing a freshen up!

Vaseline Cocoa Radiant Lotion:
I love Vaseline products in general, but vaseline combined with cocoa...omg a dream lotion for me! I really like this lotion a lot. I brought it to try it out and it was only £2.99 so I wasn't expecting much. But I find this lotion really leaves my skin feeling hydrated and moisturised! It don't linger on top of the skin and the scent isn't too overpowering either. But a little of this product goes such a long way and I find it does an amazing job for my skin.I have really been liking to use this now that the colder weather is settling in and for £2.99 I really think it's fantastic.

Vichy Idealia Smoothing And Illuminating Cream:
Now I harp on about this product all the time, whether its here on my blog or even more so in my Youtube videos! But I really do like this cream a lot. I use it in the morning before I apply my makeup, and it leaves my skin looking super dewy and refreshed. It smells like raspberries as well which is a big bonus! I originally tried this in a Glossybox, and immediately feel in love with it. But being £22 it took me a while to bite the bullet and purchase the full size. But of course I did and I am so glad I did. Really worth every penny and it looks pretty smart too! You can usually sample this in most boots stores so defiantly worth checking out!

Elf Makeup Mist & Set Spray:
This setting spray was a trial buy  for me. I hadn't heard many people rave about this, and I needed to get a setting spray anyway, so it seemed ideal to purchase this and give it a go! It has aloe, green tea, cucumber and vitamins A,C & E in it, which a good thing because no one wants to be spraying nasty chemicals on their face. The smell isn't that nice, but the overall staying power of the product is amazing. It doesn't mess your makeup up when you first spray it on, and it dries really quickly. I find that my makeup stays on twice as long as normal and I have been loving to use this daily for the past month!

Palmers Cocoa Butter Gradual Tanner:
Again this a product I like and rave about alot! I really love this so so much and I wear over my normal fake tans as it's that good! This is around £5 and is basically a gradual tanner and a moisturiser in one. I would say you 100% need to apply this with a tanning glove/mitt as it does make your hands go super orange, even if you do wash them after! I love this for a natural bronzed look. Being paled skinned sometimes proper fake tans can look OTT on me, but this gradual tan looks so natural and you get a good colouring after one application. It also moisturises the skin which is a bonus, and I have enjoyed wearing this when I was to look a little bit more tanned. It doesn't go on streaky and it smells nice too!

What's in this months Glossybox?

Hello!
So, I returned from work today today to find a little gem waiting for me....only this months Glossybox!

I thought I would do a quick post on what I got, and maybe I will do a review of what I thought of the products at a later date.
So this months box is titled the 'Detox' box, with many products for your skin! I have to say, usually I'm not that bothered about skincare products, but recently I have been getting back into using them so I'm eager to try these little beauties! So what did I get??

 Firstly I got this sample size (30ml) of a body lotion by the brand 'Duck Island', which I think is a really funky name! This would usually be £24.95 for 500ml, so I wouldn't say its too expensive. Now I usually love body lotions, but I am a little put off this. It looks and smells like the bathroom cleaner ciff! Or Jiff (I'm not sure what it's called now but I'm sure you know what I mean!). I have yet to try it so I may be pleasantly surprised, but so far, first impression is not good!

Next I have a warming face mask by 'Monu'. My sample size is 30ml, and this product is usually £24.95 for 100ml. I'm very eager to try this because I do love face masks, and it doesn't smell too bad either. This seems like it could be a very promising product, as it claims to help increase vitamin and mineral absorption, as well as renewing cell health.

Now this is the only product that I've tried so far! And it seems good at the moment! This is called the 'Lip Bee Healthier' lip balm by Jason, and is usually £1.99. It contains Aloe and Beeswax, and is meant to soothe and protect your lips! It seemed to moisturise my lips which is what I especially want from a lip balm, but it did make my lips tingle a little bit which was bit weird! But I do like this product!

Next is an exfoliating face wash by 'Elemis' (30ml), and this is usually £12 for 100ml. I do love a good face wash, and this one seems like it could be good. It smells really nice and is ok-priced for the full size.I'm excited to try this because I love nothing more than my face feeling clean and refreshed, so i need a product that is going to do that.

Next is this face toner by 'Premae Skincare' (30ml), this is usually £27.50 for 50ml. With this being quite a pricey product I would expect it to be good!! I have been looking for a new toner so maybe this is the one for me!? It looks and smells good, so I have a feeling I will be getting good results from this!

Finally, Glossybox threw in a little extra freebie. This cute eye patch thing for sleepy nights or just relaxing. I wouldn't usually use one of these, but its too cute and i think i may have to try it out!

So that was everything in this months box. I will do a review on what I thought of the products at a later date. Did you get the same products in this months box? If so, what do you think of them?

xx