I’m almost never disappointed with my Birchbox, but there comes a time when one box blows every other one out of the water. Case in point: June’s Birchbox, which was pretty much perfection from the seven (SEVEN!) samples to the JetBlue travel quiz (I confess I’m addicted to quizzes). Of course, the quiz result said I should visit New York, but having already lived in New York, as well as Portland, I self-selected my destination to…San Fransisco or Austin or Chicago. I honestly can’t decide, I have a chronic case of wanderlust. If I absolutely had to choose, I’d probably go with Austin for the authentic Mexican food and because I’ve never been to Texas. But I digress, on to the fabulous samples.
Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Anti-Wrinkle Defense Serum: I had previously tried this sample at Sephora, so I was stoked to get another free trial before shelling out $62. Here’s what I found: even though it plumps fine lines (granted, I’m only 26, so my major concern is vertical smile lines), it can cause breakouts. Other reviewers also complained about breaking out when using the serum, so if your skin is anywhere near oily, proceed with caution. If you care more about diminishing fine lines than the possibility of breaking out then by all means try this product. I prefer the overnight detox, which leaves my skin pore-free and blemish-free in the morning.
Coastal Scents Sunset Eyeshadow Palette: this was my first eyeshadow sample from Birchbox, and I can understand why – eyeshadow samples are hard to package. Nonetheless, I received a a sizable sample that might just last through the summer (!). The four color palette ranges from shimmery gold to plum that nicely transitions from day to night. The warm rosy tones create a gorgeous smokey eye, too.
Davines Love Curl Enhancing Shampoo, Conditioner, & OI/Oil: First, the shampoo I’ve heard many great things (mostly from Birchbox staff and subscribers) about Davines, so I was a bit taken aback when I noticed that the shampoo contains sulfates. And as anyone with curly hair knows, sulfates are a red flag because they dry out your curls. However, in the name of beauty blogging, I took a break from my sulfate-free shampoo (which is usually L’Oreal) to try Davines. Though my hair felt harder and drier after shampooing, the conditioner helped hydrate my parched strands but the real magic occurred when I used the oil. Let me preface this by saying that I usually use an argan oil serum (I have several that I alternate, but I’ll leave that for another post) and that this one is a hundred times better. Unlike argan oil, this beautifying potion doesn’t weigh down my hair or leave it greasy. Instead, my hair (which is admittedly in need of a trim) was bouncy, shiny, frizz-free, and incredibly soft. My hair is almost never bouncy with a serum, so this stuff is really spectacular.
Gilhcrist & Soames London Collection Body Lotion: I could always use an extra body lotion in my arsenal, but there’s nothing particularly spectacular about this one. It’s more lightweight than other lotions and is free of parabens. The brand is a longtime supplier of luxury hotel body lotions, which makes sense considering the scent smells like you’re on vacation.
Harvey Prince Singular Scentsations Imperial Gardenia: Here’s the thing, I was supposed to receive the Catherine Maladrino perfume sample according to my box preview on the Birchbox website, but I got this sample instead. I’m not complaining, though, this scent is fresh and heavenly, like stepping into a full bloom garden, and I don’t usually go for garden scents. Suffice it to say, I can’t stop spraying this perfume.
Be honest, was your June Birchbox better than mine? I’d love to see what everyone else received.
