April 2012 BirchBox

This is my third BirchBox so far, and I am still loving the subscription.  Not sure if you are aware but I have a huge cosmetic stash but that does nott stop me from collecting more. For $10 per box, it’s totally worth the price.  You get interesting samples and sometimes, full size products and there's an element of surprise which adds to the fun. What's in others' box may be completely different from your's.

This month’s theme: Natural Wonders.

In my box: Harvey Prince Yogini perfume sample vial - this is some sort of spray that will help you relax and keep calm. This smell of sandalwood and I find that scent a little overpowering. // Juice Beauty Oil-free Moisturizer (5 ml) - organic fruit-based hydrator that won't clog pores. I will give this a try on my next vacation since it's a good size to take on a short trip and is airplane friendly. // WEI Black Soy Instant Lifting Face Treatment (1 treatment mask worth $11) I don't think I need any "lifting" treatment for my age right now, I will give it to my mom to try. // Zoya True Spring Collection in Bevin (7.5 ml , about $4) - very excited to try this colour which is a blue-gray. // MicrodermaMitt Face Mitt (full size, worth $28.50) - a natural silk mitt that gently exfoliates away dead skin cells and pore-clogging debris. This product, I am extremely excited to try. In fact, I will use it tonight! 


In my experience, I have always received at least one full size product that is worth more than the $10 I pay. So BirchBox has really worked out for me. Yes, you can get free samples in department stores but a lot of the time, it's a packet sample. And if you want deluxe samples, you either have to spend a minimum amount or save up points to redeem. 


Do you have a BirchBox subscription? What is in your box?

My previous 2012 BirchBox:
March Regular box
March TeenVogue box

March 2012 Teen Vogue BirchBox

For those of you who has read my earlier post about BirchBox, you know they have mailed me the incorrect box. Click here to see what I got in my Regular March BirchBox pack.


Well, I finally received my Teen Vogue BirchBox shipment. I must say, eventhough I am no longer a "teen", I am really impressed with what was in my box. I found everything to be useful and love love love the full size Tarte lip tint. It was in the exact shade that I had wanted to purchase. I put off buying it because I found out BirchBox was including it in the Teen Vogue box. Luckily for me, it was actually in the shade I wanted instead of the peachy shade that some other subscribers received.


So obviously, you know this is the Teen Vogue box. Eva Chen, beauty editor of Teen Vogue selected these products to help subscribers get ready for spring formals and special events. I don't have any special events or spring formals to attend. But I do love lip colours and sparkly nail polishes A LOT so I am happy I chose the Teen Vogue box which contained two full size products worth well over the $10 I paid.


This is what I got in my box:

• Vial sample of Annick Goutal Petite Cherie perfume. I actually have this in full size so a small sample to carry around is a plus.
• Full size bottle ($8 USD/$10 Cdn) of Essie Luxeffects Nail Polish in A Cut Above which is a glittery pink sparkle. I have been going crazy with DIY nail arts lately, but when I am in the mood for straight up polish & sparkle, I will give this a try.
• Shiseido Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Papers (10 sheets). This product is like any oil absorbing film. It does work in absorbing oil without smudging your makeup, but you can get the exact same result from Clean & Clear oil-absorbing sheets for less.
• Full size  ($24 USD/$31 Cdn) Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Amused which is a pretty bright pink. It is a long lasting lip tint made without all the artificial by-products such as paraben, silicone, etc etc. I tried it today and it lasted through lunch and kept my lips soft and moisturized for hours. However I don't have dry crackling lips to begin with so can't confirm if it moisturizes 6000% as it claims.
• one Twistband Hair Tie in orange.

PS. Don't forget to enter my giveaway here.

 Lips before Tarte LipSurgence

Lips with Tarte LipSurgence in Amused

Birchbox March 2012 - My first Birchbox delivery!

I first found out about BirchBox through the Teen Vogue blog site. Eva Chen, the Teen Vogue beauty director talks about it repeatedly. I love anything beauty and giving away $10 a month for a box of mystery goodies in return was naturally a no brainer for me. :)  I ordered my first BirchBox in mid February and selected the Teen Vogue box (for fun!). My BirchBox finally arrived 2 weeks ago but to my disappointment and excitement at the same time (sad face than happy face), they mailed the regular box. The good part is the regular box actually had a lot of nice, almost full-sized products worth way more than $10. The sad part is I found out the Teen Vogue box has a full-sized Tarte Lip Stain (something I would wear!) and a sparkly Essie nail polish (if you look at my NOTD posts, you know I love my sparkle polish.). As I was composing an angry email in my head, I saw an email on my phone from Birchbox. The email says they realized that they have mailed me the wrong box and will send me a Teen Vogue box free of charge.  Jumping with joy, I thought to myself {I scored}!


For those not familiar with BirchBox, it is a beauty sample subscription for $10 a month. You simply sign up with them, fill out a personal beauty/life style profile and they send you 4-6 samples suited to your profile every month. If you like what you see and would like to give it a try, please sign up using my referral link here.  Thank you! You can cancel it at any time, and you earn points to put towards the purchase of full size products.


Okay, so without further ado, let me tell you what is included in the March 2012 BirchBox.
The Theme of this month's box is Spring Training - "samples that will wipe your beauty routine into shape!"

• Color Club Professional Nail Lacquer in Jackie Oh! (7ml) - This is such a pretty cheerful pink. I can't wait to wear it later this week!
• One Love Organics - Skin Savior Waterless Beauty Balm (15ml) - This product can be used as a cleansing balm or as a rich moisturizer. I tried this on my cuticle and elbow and it works really well for such areas. The scent is a very nice light citrus.
• I Coloniali - Invigorating Tibetan Shower Cream with Rhubarb (100ml) - I am thinking of saving it for my next vacation. 
• I Coloniali - Deep Massage Body Cream with Myrrh (10ml packet) - have not tried yet.
• Miss Jessie's Quick Curls Spiraling Creme (I can't find the posted size but guessing it's approx 50ml). I am growing my hair for a digital perm. This will be a great product to try.
• WEI - Pomegranate Buffing Beads (0.5g x 2 packets) - Will report back.

As a reminder, I will be having my first giveaway end of this month so come back and visit.