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September BirchBox | Contents & First Impressions


So the other week, I decided I'd bite the bullet and subscribe to 'Birchbox'. I'd seen loads of people raving about it, claiming its better than their super rival, 'Glossy Box', a subscription I was also looking at. But after reading some reviews and doing a bit of research, I settled on the 'Birchbox' instead.

Seeing as I haven't had a beauty box subscription like this before, I thought it would be a helpful for me to write about my first impression, what I received in my first ever box and whether I will carry on with my subscription. Let me know whether it would be something you'd be interested in and I could perhaps make it a monthly slot here on my blog.

First Impressions

Delivery

I received the box roughly a week after placing the order online. I'd have thought, considering the postage cost nearly £3, it wouldn't have taken that long to arrive, but it's only a small detail to add to the first impressions conclusion.

Packaging

When it finally arrived, it came neatly packaged, the colourful, patterned box came wrapped within a pink, cardboard sleeve in order to protect the main box and therefore, the contents inside it. It was easy to get into and didn't take long to delve inside to see which goodies I'd been given. Overall, I was very impressed with the packaging of the box, it came in pristine condition and it was very aesthetically pleasing.

Contents

When I first opened the box, I was surprised at how full it was. Although the box itself isn't massive, I was only expecting to receive a few little bits and bobs. This month, I got two free liquid lipsticks, they each came in their own box which were then put into a small, resealable, plastic bag. One colour I'd be a lot more likely to use than the other, but we'll discuss that in the next section of this post.

Everything I received in this months box I'd use, a rarity when it comes to these beauty box subscriptions. I was worried I'd be given things that I'd have no use for, but that wasn't the case. With Birchbox, after you set up your account, you answer a few questions that are personal to you, such as your hair type, skin type, whether you'd be interested in anti-aging products, eye creams or hair masks. Its very much tailored towards the individual buying the box, which is a really lovely detail, rather than everyone getting the same thing.

Inside September's Birchbox



Inside your box, you get given a card which opens out to show you what you have received in your box, together with the RRP of a full sized product. Obviously, the items you received are only sample sized. The card also entitles you to 10% off the full sized products if you buy it from their online shop, which is helpful. You also get another card which gives "3 reasons to love the Birchbox shop", I won't lie to you, that got chucked in the recycling bin, it was just a bit unnecessary to be honest.

You also get another card which holds four £5 off vouchers which you can give your friends so that they can enjoy their first 'Birchbox' at a cheaper cost which is a nice touch. Finally, you get a coupon code for receiving £10 off your first order at 'Bloom & Wild' which is just an online flower shop basically.


Now onto the bit you've all been waiting for, the products. I will include the sized of the product, the RRP of the full sized version and the description that has been printed on the card. I hope it's useful to you!

N.4 High Performance Hair Care - 30ml (RRP £24.50)

According to the packaging, this is a smoothing balm for the hair. You wash your hair as normal and apply it whilst your barnet is still wet. Then dry and style it as you normally would. I haven't read many reviews about it really, but when I try it, I'll do a follow up post for you!

"Feeling time-crunched? This multi-tasking balm is perfect for you. Whether your hair is dry, frizz-prone or coarse, work a small amount through damp locks and leave the hardworking formula to do it's thing. Hair is left with a soft, touchable texture and protected against humidity and heat damage"

BLAQ Peel Off Mask - 15ml (RRP £14)

When I saw this in the box, I got really excited.  love anything which is going to cleanse my pores or even reduce them. This looked really promising. Again, I haven't looked up any reviews as I'd like to be able to develop my own opinions about it. But I'm excited to give it a try.

"Want even, poreless skin free from blackheads? Yes, please! This activated charcoal mas instantly targets toxins and draws out impurities. Cleanse skin with a warm cloth before applying an even layer to the t-zone, wait 15-20 minutes then slowly peel off. The results? Happy, flawless and radiant skin!"

Benefit 'Box O' Powder' in 'Galifornia' - 1.6g (RRP £25.50)

I was happy to see that this had arrived in my box. I have never tried a Benefit blush before, I'm scared that this could very well be the start of something which won't be so good for my bank balance. First impressions were that it is definitely a wearable, day-to-day colour, the texture feels nice and the pigmentation is good. So lets see how I get on with it.

"Bring the warm glow of California sunshine to your look with this beautiful blush. Blended with a gorgeous shimmering gold, the pretty pink formula adds a radiant flush to cheeks. Just dust it on using a fluffy brush. Oh, and it smells of pink grapefruit and vanilla, too - could it get any better?!"

What's in it for me..? Shower Scrub - 50ml (RRP £7)

I love shower scrubs, there's something about them that make them stand out from any other shower product I generally use. I think it's the idea of a scrub getting rid of all the dirt and dry skin from your body and you just generally feel super duper clean after every wash. I'm looking forward to giving this 'Birchbox' exclusive a try, just to see how it fairs to other scrubs I love. Oh and it doesn't contain plastic microbeads!

"Treat your body to a new lease of life with this exfoliating treat. It gently scrubs away dull, dead skin cells with fragments of gritty walnut shell, whilst its sweet almond oil nourishes and prevents dryness. Plus, it's infused with uplifting orange and jasmine flower extracts that linger on your skin."

Marcelle 'City 24H Anti-Pollution Day & Night Moisturising Emulsion' - 7ml (RRP £23)

I haven't really tried anything like this before. I tend to stick to your typical moisturisers and toners for example, so this looked very interesting. I'm waiting for my weekly pamper night which I like to give myself, generally on a Wednesday night after work. Like with everything else in this post, I'll give you a separate review when I develop a firm opinion on the product.

"Protect your skin from the effects of pollution (like dullness, dehydration and irritation) with this daily moisturiser. Using CityGuard - a complex that acts to shield your skin - its cruelty-free formula provides long-lasting hydration and visibly brightens. Apply morning and night for a fresh, healthy complexion."

Estate Lip Icing (x1) & Wet Matte Liquid Lips (x1) - 3.1g each (RRP £10 each)

The 'lip icing', which is basically a lip gloss, came in the colour 'Extra', which I personally wouldn't utilise. I don't really suit lip colours that are super light or peachy in tone, so I may have to donate this one to my sister or my mum. The other one is a matte, liquid lipstick in the shade 'Treat'. Initially, I thought this was way too dark, but after swatching it on the back of my hand, I think its beautiful. It also stayed on my hand, in pristine condition for the past four hours and shows no sign of fading. Obviously, I'll need to trial it on the lips before forming a firm opinion on it, but I'll keep you all posted.

This was a free gift so there isn't a description from 'Birchbox' themselves, so instead, I'm going to leave a link to where you can buy Estate cosmetics.

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I definitely recommend 'Birchbox' if you're a beauty fan and have been on the fence regarding beauty subscription boxes. I may well carry on my subscription for now, just to see whether the products you get are as good as this every month. I feel the first ones will always be great to ensure you keep the subscription going, so we'll see with regards to that.

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I hope you enjoyed this post and I will see you son with another! Have a good day.

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