What's In My July Birchbox?

The theme to the July Birchbox is Sun, Sea & Sand - preparing people for their summer holidays (not me, sob sob!) or a hot English summer. The box, they say, contains samples that will see you through the hottest season.

So, lets' see what's in the box....

Weleda - Millet Nourishing Shampoo - 18ml (Full size is 190ml for £8.95)
This is a non-lathering shampoo containing organic macadamia nut oil, and extracts of organic millet husks and sage to clean your hair gently, while stopping the hair from becoming dry. I'm happy to try out shampoo samples in my beauty boxes, I just wish they would also include the corresponding conditioner, so you can really give it a go! Other than that, this is a great sample - gentle enough that I can use on the kids too.

Gilchrist & Soames - English Spa Sea Kelp Mineral Bath - 40ml  (Full size is 236ml for £11.25)
I always like to try brands I've not used before - and in this case, not heard of! Used as a bubble bath , it really foams up well under hot running water. It can also be used as a shower gel, and is a perfect size to take on holiday without taking up vital shoe-room! It leaves the skin feeling clean and fresh without any dryness or tightness,

Balance Me - Wonder Eye Cream - 7ml (Full size is 15ml for £20)
I have used this cream before - it's a lightweight eye cream, designed to brighten the under-eye area, as well as smoothing away dark shadows and fine lines. It's packed full of natural ingredients, such as Roman chamomille, lemon, cucumber oil, witch hazel, hyaluronic acid, spruce knot, virgin coconut, rosehip and carrot oils, and absorbs quickly into the skin.

LAQA & CO - Sheer Lip Lube Pencil - Bees Knees - 0.07oz (FULL SIZE! RRP £14)
There are two shades being split between the boxes - Bees Knees, the one I have which is a gorgeous pale coral, and Menatour a purpley pink. I love it, and is definitely my favourite thing in the box. It's sheer yet gives just the right amount of colour to the lips. Plus it's really pepperminty and fresh and feels moisturising to wear.

Whish - Three Little Whishes - Lavender Body Butter 22ml (Full size is 150ml for $24)
Whish is another brand I hadn't heard of until now - and with a little investigation I have seen that they are an American brand, which doesn't seem readily available in the UK yet. That makes me want to try it even more, I 'm a sucker for things that are hard to get hold of (then I fall in love with it and can't get hold of it... story of my life!) Aaaaaaaaanyway.... the little tube of body butter comes in a variety of scents, and although this one is lavender, it's not lavender as you might imagine it - it smells modern and delicate and, well, good enough to lick! It sinks in well to the skin and leaves it feeling really supple and gorgeous. Must. check. more. of. the. range.

and this month's lifestyle extra is

Ultradex - Oral Spray 9ml (FULL SIZE! RRP £3.65)
A little spray to pop in your hand bag for a quick breath-freshen-up on the go! As well as leaving a minty fresh taste, it actually works to kill any harmful bacteria that could be lurking in there!

All in all, quite a body-orientated box this month, although they all seem like top quality and intriguing products - I definitely want to use them all!

To find out more, and subscribe - check out the Birchboxwebsite.

May 2014 Birchbox with Harpers Bazaar

This month, Birchbox have collaborated with Harpers Bazaar to create a box literally jam packed with beauty and lifestyle samples chosen by the magazines experts and Birchbox editors, with the theme of the Great Outdoors. The idea is that the warmer weather is (or at least should be!) coming, we're getting out more - whether that is a stroll into the countryside or a festival.

They have put together a little magazine featuring the products and lots of tips on how to use them, and why they chose them - with gorgeous photography and graphics. Harpers Bazaar have also included an exclusive subscriber offer to get 12 issues of their magazine for just £12, which is a massive saving of £3.20 per issue! The box itself is absolutely stunning - this one shall definitely house something for me... just look at it!

 Right, let's get onto the important part... what's inside this month?

Benefit They're Real Mascara - 3.0g (£19.50 for 18.5g)
This one has done the rounds in the beauty boxes but I'm sure it's always a welcome sample. They're Real Mascara is the number one selling mascara in the UK - it promises dramatic length and volume, curling and lifting action to the lashes, and to last alllll daayyyyyy loooonnnngggg! I have to confess, when it was originally released I bought some and didn't like it as my skin was so oily it gave me panda eyes, but I will definitely try it again thanks to this mini tube - the majority of people I know use this as their mascara and love it!

Soigné Nail Laquer - Cerise - FULL SIZE! (£11)
Soigné is a new brand to the scene - every time I've seen photos of their polishes I think how lovely they look and classy the bottle is. Included in my box was the shade Cerise - a gorgeous raspberry pink. The brush is wide which is my favourite kind, can't wait to give this non toxic polish a whirl.

Aromatherapy Associates - Relax Light Bath & Shower Oil - 3ml (£40 for 55ml)
I'm so pleased to see this sample in the box. I've wanted to try some of the Aromatherapy Associates Relax oils for a while, but couldn't bear to part with the £40 necessary to do so. This is the perfect way for me to try before I buy - with enough in the mini bottle for one bath, or for you to put all over your body before having a shower, I am looking forward to the results as it states "a great post-work lifter, perfect to ease a tired body and mind". With ylang ylang, lavender and petitgrain, it sounds like it's going to be a little slice of Heaven in the bathroom.

Philip Kingsley - One More Day Dry Shampoo 50ml (£5.95)
This is a full sized mini of the One More Day Dry Shampoo which retails at £5.95 - with 50ml inside it's enough to keep you going for a while and the perfect size to chuck in your bag or to travel with. I've used this before and really enjoyed the results - it doesn't leave your hair chalky and has a refreshing, delicate clean fragrance.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser 30ml + 1 muslin cloth (£5.50)
Another full sized mini here! Liz Earle has recently celebrated winning 100 awards which is pretty good going! This gives subscribers the chance to give the Cleanse & Polish cleanser a go. I love how it melts makeup off your face, and using the muslin cloth ensures you get every last scrap off your face leaving it clean and nourished. There's rosemary, chamomile, cocoa butter and eucalyptus essential oil inside the creamy cleanser - I think it's one of those ones everyone should try at some point in their lives.

...and this months Lifestyle Extra is

Imedeen - Derma One - 30 tablets / 15 days supply (£37.99 for 60 tablets / 30 day supply)
Derma One helps to tackle the first signs of ageing for people aged 30+. This makes me wonder if Birchbox are now tailoring their boxes to specific people, as I happen to be 30! I'd be interested to hear if anyone in their teens or early 20s were also given these in their box. They contain a blend of Marine Complex, Vitamin C and Zinc to improve skin quality, moisture balance, radiance and give your skin on the face and body a softer, more smoother feel. Sounds good, but the only issue is that it says to expect to see results in 12 weeks... when there's only a 2 week supply in here, I don't know if any results would be visible, but it's a good way to get started if you were thinking of starting a supplement for your skin.

All in all I think this months box is fabulous, and worth so much more than the £10 subscription fee. If you subscribe before 31st May you'll be able to Get The Harper's Bazaar x Birchbox May Box!

What's in my April Birchbox?

This month, the Birchbox theme is 'good enough to eat' - everything inside the monthly-subscription box having some kind of relation to food and gorgeousness.

The open box reveals a concertina of foodie postcards, with lovely ideas on the back - places to go and visit, natural face masks to make in your own kitchen, a recipe for salted caramel cupcakes, more info on some of the products featured in the box, as well as details on how to win the full sized version of all of them.

Enough rambling - on with the contents....!

The Balm Cosmetics - How 'Bout Them Apples? Cheek & Lip Cream in Pie - 0.57 g ...or I reckon about a 1p sized pan (£26 for the full sized palette containing all 6 shades)
I was just thinking the other day that I would like to try some more of The Balm's products so this was a really well timed surprise for me. How 'Bout Them Apples is a cheek and lip cream palette - I'm guessing subscribers will have received some of the other shades, the one I got was Pie - a corally red shade which leaves a lovely 'just bitten' shade to the lips or can be easily blended down to a natural flushed tone for the cheek. It's super easy to apply with the fingers and a fab product for summer. The size of it means perfect for slipping into your handbag for when a quick touch up or transformation is needed.

Lord & Berry - Couture Kohl SILK Kajal Eye Pencil in Black - 0.6g ....or a half sized pencil (full size is £10)
I'm a big fan of Lord & Berry but was yet to try any of the SILK Kajal Kohl Liners, and in my opinion, I can never have enough black liner - it's one of those things I will always use. This seems to glide onto the skin easily and is a true black. It's smudgeable for a softer, smokier look, although not overly creamy.

Color Club - Gala's Gems Nail Polish in Aquamarine Azulino - mini polish (£15 for set of 4)
Birchbox have teamed up with London-based Spanish blogger Gala Gonzalez to create a collection of four Color Club nail polishes exclusive to Birchbox called Gala's Gems. Each of the polishes is a pearlescent pastel shade - I received Aquamarine Azulino a gorgeous pearly sky-blue colour. I do love Color Club polishes and look forward to giving this one a go - it looks like the perfect spring shade.

Yes To Cucumbers - Soothing Facial Towelettes - 10 wipes (full size 30 wipes £4.99)
I don't really 'do' face wipes, but if I did, these would sound pretty good to me - 95% natural, hypoallergenic, oil free, and packed with cucumber and aloe vera. I think these will go in my kit for emergency situations!

Laura Mercier - Souffle Body Creme in Ambre Vanilla - 25g (full size 170g is £27)
A gorgeously luxurious body cream which sinks easily into the skin leaving a fragrance that sticks around for (seemily) ever! Subscribers will have received a creme or body butter - I'm extremely pleased with mine, particularly that I was given Ambre Vanilla as I love vanilla scents. It's packed with conditioning grape seed oil, vanilla and honey which soothes the skin, and really does smell, and feel, good enough to eat.

And this months lifestyle extra is...

Propercorn - Sweet Coconut and Vanilla popcorn - 8g (90p for 20g)
I'm not very adventurous when it comes to popcorn flavours, but coconut and vanilla certainly sounds interesting! The mini bag contains under 40 calories worth of popcorn, so if it's good, I will definitely repurchase!

All in all I think the April box has been a fantastic one - I can find a use for everything in my box, and the high proportion of makeup makes me a happy girl! It's not too late to order this box if you would like one for yourself. You can check it out, subscribe and shop for all the full sized items featured in the box on the BIRCHBOXwebsite.

Let me know your thoughts!

What's Inside my January Birchbox?

Birchbox is back in my life - and for that, I am grateful!

This year, it kick started with the Tiny Tweaks box - all about the little fixes you can do to get yourself back on the straight and narrow after all the Christmas partying - to make you feel, and look better. As well as the 6 items in the box, the little magazine that comes with it, is packed with ideas for little things you can do to make yourself happier, little resolutions you can actually stick to - which I thought was a really nice touch.

Although I really enjoy the box subscription services that you choose what products you'll be getting, I still really like the idea of a surprise box, and that's how Birchbox run their ship. You don't know what will be inside your box until you open it. It feels like a birthday when you have no idea what to expect beneath the layers of wrapping, and it's nice. Even that helps to make you feel happier!

So, in this months box there was....

Philip Kingsley - Moisture Balancing Conditioner - 20ml (£7.50 for 75ml)
This product is designed to add a boost of moisture to medium textured, wavy or fine processed hair. It's weightless so doesn't weigh the hair down, and leaves the hair smooth, shiny, and tangle-free. It's also great to use on children because of the detangling agents - I just wish there was also the shampoo from the same range included in the box, to really give the range a good test.

Benefit - The POREfessional - 7.5ml (£24.50 for 22ml)
I absolutely love this primer, so the more little samples of this the better! It's actually rather a large size bottle and a fantastic size for adding to your bag for travelling. I use this primer on a daily basis to smooth out my skin, shrink my pores, and make my makeup last longer. I just love it!

Vasanti - Detox Nutrient-Rich Purifying Facial Cleanser - 20ml (5.07oz for $24)
This is a brand I've never heard of before - I just visited their website to get some info for this post, and the reviews of this product are fantastic! It's a cleanser suitable for all skin types - even acne prone and sensitive skins. The general buzz is that it's really good at removing all traces of make up and controlling oil - sounds right up my street! It also contains omegas 3 and 6 to leave you with radiant looking skin.

Rodial - Bee Venom Moisturiser - 5ml (£150 for 50ml)
This is a revolutionary product which contains honey bee venom to trick the skin into thinking it has been stung, forcing it to repair itself. The result is a great anti-ageing formula, which leaves skin looking firmer and younger. The clinical trials they did to test the results were taken on women over the age of 50, and the blurb on their site talks a great deal about getting rid of the effects of menopause on the face, so I wonder how many people this cream may actually be useful for that have received it in their Birchbox. That said, I will still give it a go, and see if it makes any difference to my skin.

Premae - Anatomy Nutrients Body Oil - 20ml (£9.50 for 100ml)
Another brand I hadn't heard of prior to this, but my research found interesting results. This brand is allergy-free; it contains no treenuts, soy, wheat and oats, as well as petrochemicals, parabens and SLS. I can imagine this must make a world of difference to allergy sufferers that still want to enjoy luxury products. This is a spray-on oil designed to be used after showering to lock in moisture to your skin. I've used it a couple of times, and although the spray is a bit forceful, the smell is really lovely, and the oil sinks into the skin quickly leaving it with a really soft finish.

And Birchbox likes to include a 'Lifestyle Extra', which this month, is...

Itsu - Miso Soup - 25g (£2.25 for 3 25g sachets)
Miso soup is rich in amino acids and antioxidants, aids digestion and strengthens the immune system... apparently it's yummy... to be honest the ingredients list boasting cooked soybeans, natural yeast, rice, barley, wakame, spring onion and tofu doesn't really do it for me, but if it does float your boat this is a handy little sachet to pop in your bag for work.

There are a nice variety of products in this month's box. I have seen on the Birchbox site that other boxes this month contained Aromatherapy Associates and Laura Mercier products, I would have liked to have had one of them, it really is the luck of the draw!

If you'd like to sign up, you can subscribe here for £10 a month (+£2.95 p&p) or save when you sign up for 6 months or more.

What's in my Birchbox?

My June Birchbox is in my possession! I've recorded a video showing what was inside mine. I am really pleased with this months box - check out the video to find out more!

What's in my Birchbox?

It's May Birchbox time already! If you'd like to see what's inside my box and my thoughts, check out my video below:



Let me know your thoughts and if you got anything different in your box.

What's in my April Birchbox?

My April Birchbox arrived today - if you'd like to see what was inside, check out my video below.



Thanks for watching!

What's in my Birchbox UK?

My March Birchbox arrived yesterday morning - I had seen some pictures of other boxes and was really looking forward to mine... although the products were different, there were still some lovely things in the box. Check out my video if you'd like to see what I got in mine, and my thoughts.

Thanks for watching!

What's in my Birchbox UK?

I finally got a camera to enable me to do YouTube videos - yay! As you can see, there are a few focusing issues in this video but it was my first time using the new baby, so I can iron out those kinks ready for next time. If you have any video ideas you'd like me to film please let me know!

My February Birchbox arrived last week, and this is the first chance I've had to sit down and record the video - so, better late than never!

What's in my Birchbox UK?

January is the first month that Joliebox has changed to Birchbox UK, so I was rather excited to find out what was in my beauty box this month. Check out my video to see what was inside.


What do you think of this month's box?

What's in my Glossybox?

Today is the day that the June Glossybox's were received. I had been waiting patiently since yesterday so was very excited once it arrived.

Check out my video to see what is in my box.




I have since discovered that some products were different in other people's boxes. Instead of the Foot Oil, some people got a Rouge Bunny Rouge lip gloss, others got an Abahna bath and shower gel. Although I'm impressed with the oil, I am very disappointed not to have received the lip gloss in my box, especially as I had ticked that I was most interested in cosmetics, and have received none!

Other than that, I am still really pleased with the box and will continue my subscription for as long as they are as good and I can afford it!

Visit www.glossybox.co.uk to subscribe!

GlossyBox - A New Way To Test Out Products

I have to say a big thanks to Stine of Chic Beauty Blog for pointing this company out to me - I had never heard of such a thing before, but after some investigation it seems the whole country is going GlossyBox crazy today thanks to some blogging and press about the company.

Glossybox.co.uk is a UK based company (although it is available in other countries too) which is a similar idea as the BirchBox in the USA. You pay a subscription of £10 a month, and GlossyBox send a... ermmm... glossy box to your door containing 5 miniature luxury beauty items. It can be anything from cream to face powder, nail varnish.... I watched a YouTube video of someone reviewing her first box (in German) and the products included were a mini bottle of OPI, a Laura Mercier powder, Penhaligons bath and shower gel, Keihls face cream and a Good Skin Co Deep Line Filler.

When you sign up you fill in a beauty profile, which asks you your hair type and colour, eye colour, skin type, what kind of things are most important to you etc, so they know what kind, and what shade of products to send you.

The £10 monthly fee includes postage and packaging, and there's no contract to get tied in to - if you decide it's not for you, you just cancel! For me, this seems like a fab way to test out the latest products on the market without having to break the bank.

In addition to high-end luxury product miniatures, the box contains product information, application notes and tips and tricks about beauty and style. The GlossyBlog publishes interesting features on a regular basis. 

If you give your feedback on the items you are sent out, you are rewarded with GlossyDots - once you get 20 of them you get a free box!

The May boxes are being sent out mid-May, but due to the sudden influx of orders, stock is running low - if you join you may automatically get put on the list for June, but at least then you're on the list - I have a feeling this is going to be a very much in-demand service so get in there while you can!

Are you going to sign up? I just have!