Beauty Box: Birchbox January 2015

I accidentally took a bit of a blogging hiatus over the holidays. I took a trip to New York (expect to hear about it soon), and what with all the festive cheer, and some other (less cheerful) things that happened, the entire month just escaped. I hope you didn't miss me too much.

Birchbox decided to kick-off the new year with a collaboration box featuring Women's Health magazine. I suppose January is a great opportunity to start new habits, and get rid of some old ones too. I definitely want to change a few things this year. I am determined to be a bit healthier - to eat cleaner and take more exercise. It's so easy to forget to keep healthy. And the idea of it often doesn't quite fit with our hectic modern life schedules. But I am going to claim back some time to do something good for myself, I think. If I can find time to watch Netflix, I can find time to exercise. GO!

Birchbox have been very helpful in supporting my aspirations this month. I received a tube of activbod cooling lotion to soothe any sore bits from too many squats (worst pain ever, and if squats was a person, I would punch them). And I got a sachet of Embrace Matcha green tea which I immediately drank. It was really good. Apparently it has more antioxidants than regular green tea, so I would definitely consider repurchasing. And because of course, I want to look good on the outside, as well as feel good on the inside, Birchbox sorted me out with a few new beauty bits to try too. I've been researching new shampoos and conditioners to try on my often troublesome hair so it'll be interesting to see if Philip Kingsley's conditioner is up to the job, it contains wheat-protein which is meant to be great for injecting a bit of body into limp locks. And I also got a REN face mask, and a tube of HealGel, to deal with any skin complaints. I'm particularly excited about the face mask because I've always really liked REN and this product seems great for having a little instant face makeover, a faceover, if you will. Finally, Birchbox treated all their subscribers to a stila lip glaze. The colour of mine seems a bit insipid for my tastes but I'm sure I can find a home for it if it doesn't grow on me. And we also all got a pilates exercise band which will hopefully be a useful incorporation to my new lifestyle. I'm going to get on YouTube and find a few exercises I could try with it.

Although this box didn't particularly wow me, it does contain some useful products. And it'll certainly help me refresh myself after a long year - ready for the challenges of a new one. Let's make it a good one.

What did you think of this month's box? Have you started something new this January?

Beauty Box: Birchbox November 2014

I recently realised that I actually completely forgot to blog about my October Birchbox. Naughty. That probably gives you some idea of how impressed I was with it.

Luckily Birchbox is back on form this month with its Cosy at Home box. November is definitely a month for snuggling. After the excitement of Halloween and Fireworks Night it seems only right to get under a blanket, warm drink of choice in hand, and watch the dark nights roll in. It makes me feel all warm and content just thinking about it.

I can't quite figure out why this box is particularly cosy but it's a good'un all the same. I was really pleased with the Dr Jart + face serum which is meant to give the skin a moisture boost and encourage a youthful complexion. I guess if I'm getting lots of early nights I'll have lots of skin pampering time. I really do try not to focus on the cost of items in my beauty boxes but I can't believe that this alone is worth a whopping £32. Thanks Birchbox. I was also happy with the OPI nail varnish in Turn on the Haute Light. Another full size product. The shade really reminds me of snowflakes and will look great at Christmas parties. I also got a Beauty Protector leave-in conditioner which promises to detangle too. I think this is something I'll keep hold of for holidays and weekends away as it's a pretty convenient size. I don't really get tangly hair very often so it will be perfect for using when I venture into swimming pools - something that only really happens when I'm off exploring somewhere! I wasn't as impressed with the Lord & Berry bronzer or the English Laundry perfume because the samples were tiny. I really do hate getting perfume samples in beauty boxes, they just take up valuable room. I can't deny the dinky vial smells good though. The award for random inclusion goes to the Drinkwel vitamin capsules which are meant to help relieve unwanted hangovers. These will definitely come in handy and, if they work, I'll tell all my friends so we spend less time crying on sofas with a biscuit tin but in a box all about staying in, they're a bit of a strange choice.

I'm not really going out much at all this week because I have lots of work to be getting on with and a bit of a cold I'd rather cultivate in bed so hopefully I'll have some spare time to test out my goodies. I can't believe it's December soon. I can't ruddy wait for the Christmas boxes!

Did you get a Birchbox this month? Will you be staying cosy at home?

Beauty Box: Birchbox September 2014

I can’t believe it is mid-September already. I really can’t explain where this year has gone. Anyone else having similar problems?

The September 2014 Birchbox is named Happy Days. I think that September is quite a happy month. I don’t know whether it’s the first signs of autumn in the leaves, the fresh air and sunny days, or the start of new challenges for many of us, but everything does indeed feel quite joyful and exciting. 

I have my own new challenge approaching as I am about to go back to university to train as a social worker. I haven’t been in education for two years now and I feel so excited and nervous. It feels good to finally be putting all my work experience to use, as long as I don’t drown in paperwork, essays and books. I think the contents of my September Birchbox will be super useful for my newly acquired student lifestyle. I reckon that my BeautyBlender will speed up make-up application in the mornings. I have been wanting to try this little make-up sponge for ages and I literally squealed when I found one in my box. I love that every blender comes with a solid soap – it’ll make keeping it clean so much more hassle-free. Skin & Co.’s day serum will hopefully help disguise any late nights I have cramming and/or drinking, and the shock of getting used to early morning starts after a long summer holiday. I can team it with my Benefit eye cream and pretend to be fresh-faced every single day. I think I'll tuck my ModelCo mascara in my bag for a little mid-day pick me up.

I was really impressed with this month’s Birchbox. I think I’ll be able to make use of all the products I was given, and the box had a good variety. I was especially impressed with the selection of brands I was given. Happy days.

What did you get in this month’s box? Are you starting something new this September?

Beauty Box: Birchbox July 2014

The theme of July's box is Sun, Sea & Sand, which seems pretty apt considering the blazing sun outside today. Have to shout out to my shadow in the photos, hello. The box included some beachy themed postcards which would look amazing framed on the wall in a little holiday cottage or beach house. I really must find myself one of those.

I had a few expectations of this month's box based on the reviews I'd read prior to receiving my box in the post. I think mine's quite different from what I've seen online so far though. It was a nice to get a few surprises and I'm really happy with my goodies. I think there's a good mixture of stuff, although the products don't exactly scream beach holiday for me. The theme was perhaps too specific.

I started using eye cream about a year ago. The eye area is just so delicate and even if wrinkles aren't a worry, a good cream definitely helps with puffiness and circles. I'm not the best sleeper so I need all the help I can get. I've tried Balance Me shampoo and conditioner before and wasn't exactly blown away but I've heard good things about their eye cream. The sample is a really generous size too so it'll save me having to buy another cream for a month or two.

I'm not really much of a lipstick girl. I always feel like I'm playing dress-up when I put one on. I don't know if it's the shape of my lips, or a lack of confidence, or whatever. Purple lips are so hot this season though so I'm definitely going to give this Laqa & Co lip colour a go. I like that it's quite sheer, it makes the colour less scary. I can imagine teaming the shade with a colour-neutral outfit and subtle eyes. I prefer things to be a bit more minimal nowadays.

I always use a primer, with or without foundation on top. The Porefessional primer by Benefit is a pretty cult product that I've tried previously. It's a winner for me because it gives a little colour too, which makes it far more wearable in the summer, especially as it's oil-free. My only qualm is that it doesn't contain an SPF. In fact, nothing in this box does (which seems like an obvious inclusion to me). I'm in the process of booking a summer holiday so I think I'll save the primer for my suitcase.

I only have a week and a half left at work before we break up for the summer holidays. I've been feeling a bit stressed and miserable recently, and I think I've been neglecting myself a little bit. I definitely haven't felt totally like myself. I'd already decided that I was going to have a really quiet weekend, filled with books, films, cleansing and cleaning. I think I'll give my nails a treat too with my new Filosofille 4-sided nail buffer (which has given me the glossiest nails ever by the way) and my Models Own varnish. I might even slather on the Whish lavender body butter after a long bubble bath. Bliss.

Are you a subscriber? What did you think of this month's box?