Welcome to the second edition of “It’s My Birch In A Box,” my monthly feature covering what I get in my Birchbox! For those unfamiliar, Birchbox is a company that sends personalized samples of different beauty and lifestyle products each month in a box. Lovely, right? You can then go online and order full-size products that you enjoyed.
Now, I know I skipped April, but that was because finals and moving and summer happened and honestly, it just plain got away from me. So, this month, despite being mid-move again, I decided I had to rock this one out. I hope I do it it justice. Let’s go.
Gilchrist & Soames | Spa Therapy | Full-size, $15
I say again as a disclaimer: lotion has never excited me. I don’t know why, but it just doesn’t. So, when I got another product from this brand, I was not that happy. Again, like the Spa lotion I got last time, the smell reminded me of a hotel lotion and it didn’t do basically anything for my skin. If you dig that, I guess get this, but just snag some hotel lotion samples next time you’re at da Holiday Inn.
Pixi | Beauty Shea Butter Lip Balm | Full-size, $8
OK, so this one kind of threw me for a loop. When I saw it, I was so excited to try it because I am sooo into the tinted balms lately. But, when I tried it, that was a different story. I applied it and it felt great, it smelled like cake and unicorns and dreams and I loved the way it felt. But, when I looked in the mirror, the color made me look like a cartoon bear that had gotten into the strawberry pie. It just made me look messy. I think this is a personal problem though, so I would recommend this because it is very pigmented and the formula is to die for.
Whish | Shave Cream | Full-size, $20
Yay. Shaving cream. I know. I was actually a little excited when I first got this, just because my legs get dry like the second I step into air conditioning, so I thought this might help. Honestly, I don’t have much to say other than stick to a drugstore brand, cuz it did basically anything at $3 cream would do. No surprises here.
32 | Effervescent Breath Crystals with IsoVoxy | Full-size, $14.75
These were so neat. Basically, they’re like pop rocks that freshen your breath. I love that. It was super fun and wasn’t too strong. I would’ve loved for it to last longer flavor-wise, but if they start selling these in stores, I will totally buy them because especially the honey one was delish.
Nexxus | Color Assure Vibrancy Retention Primer, Shampoo and Conditioner | Full-size, $17.99, $11.99, $14.99)
Another disclaimer is that I have a shit ton of hair. So hair samples mostly don’t do much for me. This was no exception. Basically, this set did what any sample of things that are not agave oil have done; dried me out, but made me hair feel squeaky (in a bad way) clean. Like almost rubbery, if that makes sense? I didn’t notice much of a difference, but if you have less hair or the full product, you may beg to differ. I also don’t like loading products into my hair, so this was not for me.
It’s not just you Kristin, the tinted lip balm (mine came in a red) made me look like a clown too.
I also did not love the lip balm. I want to love it, but no bones.