Pardon the French, but there’s something about this month’s Birchbox that feels very…je ne sais quoi (ok, I’ll stop!). Maybe it’s the gentle cleansing balm that removes even the most potent of waterproof mascaras without shedding an eyelash, or the bronzer that gives the illusion that I’ve spent all summer at the beach (I wish) that makes me feel like I’m using truly luxurious products from a Parisian apoteka. What I love most about Birchbox is that I can discover such things like a makeup remover balm or a soapless facial cleanser from the thermal springs of France. Sure, there are samples that don’t live up to their hype, but generally the outstanding samples outweigh the mediocre or terrible ones, which are rare. Anyway, back to the August box samples.
Cailyn Cosmetics Dissolv’It Makeup Melt Cleansing Balm: if you wear eye makeup, especially waterproof eye makeup, you’ll want to add this goodie to your evening beauty arsenal. There’s several reasons to love this cleansing balm, but the main reason it’ll be replacing my makeup remover towelettes is because it is gentle and incredibly efficient at removing all makeup. You can apply this on your eyes and it won’t sting (yes, really). I lather it over my face and eyes before using Liz Earle’s cleansing cream polish and muslin cloth and it leaves my skin clean without stripping it of essential oils. Highly, highly recommend. Can you tell I’m obsessed?
Juliette Has a Gun: I usually don’t mind perfume samples but this one, called “Not a Perfume,” was not my favorite. It proclaims to be allergen-free and minimalist but has a very sharp scent of Cetalox that made my nose runny and had me feeling like I was on the verge of a migraine. All of which is very confusing considering I’m not sensitive to any other perfumes and this one touts itself as not being a perfume. But fragrances are subjective so feel buying phentermine online illegal free to check this one out before totally ruling it out.
Marcelle BB Cream Golden Glow: I’ve tried just about every BB cream under the Sephora florescent lights but this one takes the cake if you are going for the sun-kissed “I spent all weekend sun bathing” look. The texture is a bit heavier but it obscures blemishes, which is always a plus. The biggest downside is that it comes in only one “universal” shade, but it blends in enough with my skin tone so that it doesn’t look totally fake. Though this isn’t my go-to BB cream for everyday use (that would be Dr. Jart), it’s good for those occasions when you want to fake glowing, bronzed skin.
ModelCo Shimmer Bronzer: this is a sample I hand-picked since I never wear bronzer. I was mostly interested in using this for contouring purposes, and the added shimmer does wonders for cheekbones. I’d like to try a matte bronzer to compare, but for now this seems fine for the season. If you have any bronzer suggestions let me know in the comments.
Supergoop! Forever Young Hand Cream: I’ll be honest – body lotions and hand creams tend to be the most snooze-worthy of Birchbox items, however, they are a necessity. Especially hand creams since hands are the first indicators of aging. Like other Supergoop products I’ve sampled (also from Birchbox), this one didn’t disappoint. Upon lathering, it instantly hydrates my hands which have been subjected to years of harsh dishwashing soap and excessive use of hand sanitizers. I also like that it contains SPF 40 since none of my lotions contain sunscreen and my poor hands have been forever unprotected from UV rays.
And that’s a wrap! My favorite sample of the month is definitely the makeup melt cleansing balm. Don’t subject yourself to Birchbox envy; here’s an invitation to join from yours truly.
