After a four month hiatus, I renewed my Birchbox subscription due to serious #birchboxenvy and FOMO. I’m glad I did, though, because my January box is chock full of beauty goodies I can use for my day-to-day. I got an eye serum, eyeshadow stick, body butter, nail polish (I love getting nail polish), primer, and body wipe. Read on for my recap of what I loved and didn’t love.
Shiseido Ultimune Eye Power Infusing Eye Concentrate: I was super stoked when I saw that I’d be receiving this eye concentrate (concentrate is just another word for serum, fyi) in my box this month. I had tried it a sample in the past but didn’t realize that it functions underneath your eye cream. I use it about once a day, usually at night; since it’s a serum, a little bit goes a long way and you definitely don’t want to use too much because it can feel greasy. Upon application I notice my lines are drastically smoothed and my eyes look more refreshed. I use two different eye creams (because I’m really indecisive) – one from Caudalie and one from Shiseido– and alternate between the two. I’m not sure if that’s necessarily a smart move but I’ve seen a reduction in my crows feet and dark circles. Overall, if you are looking to integrate anti-aging in your beauty routine, this product is worth the splurge.
Whish Three Whishes Body Butter: Due to the sample size of this product, I use it as a hand cream rather than a body butter. I got it in the almond scent, which smells like an Italian bakery, but not too sweet like the overwhelmingly scented Bath & Body Works lotions. It has more of a refreshing scent which may have something to do with the organic ingredients. Which brings me to another reason why this product is worth the splurge – it’s organic! I’ve been trying to incorporate more organic beauty products in my routine (#greenbeauty Instagram is rubbing off on me) and this may just be my new go-to lotion brand.
Cargo Swimmables™ Shadow Stick Trio: I got the shade in Sea Shell, a golden, shimmery shade. This was my first time using an eyeshadow stick and though I still prefer powder, there’s something nice about the creamy texture. It makes me look more awake for one; and two, it doubles as an eyeliner and is very easy to use. I apply it over a smoky eye for a more dramatic effect and love how it looks. I’m not sure if I’ll be purchasing it, but if you’re looking for an eyeshadow stick this one is worth it.
LA FRESH® Instant Body Soother: This product feels refreshing on my skin and I could see using it after working out or even to wipe my yoga mat (yes? no?). Unfortunately, I only receive one wipe to try so I’m not really sure if it’s worth purchasing relative to Yes to Carrots and Burt’s Bees.
IPKN Flash Cream Radiant Primer: This primer had a thicker, greasier consistency than other primers I’ve used. It’s a lot like a lotion, which is not necessarily a bad thing if you have dry skin, but as someone with oily skin, this primer is too heavy for me. Because of that, I won’t be buying this primer.
Ciaté® Pillow Fight Nail Polish I was bummed I didn’t get the pretty grayish lilac polish in the photo, but the gunmetal shade wasn’t so bad. This nail polish is supposed to be tough on chipping and quick to dry but I didn’t notice a difference compared to other nail polish brands I use (Deborah Lippman, butter LONDON) and it’s not as smooth.
Generally, this was a pretty good box and I am using all the samples. What did you get in your box this month?
P.S.: If you’re not already a subscriber, sign-up for Birchbox so you won’t get left out of a Valentine’s Day box!
