So a few months ago I was seriously considering cancelling my Birchbox (okay I did cancel it but FOMO got the better of me and I signed up again before I missed a box) but I am now so glad I didn’t! April’s box isn’t actually a box but with celebrating World Earth Day, a Stasher reusable silicone pouch. There are three colour options and I was very happy with the peachy colour that I received. These pouches can be used for any number of things including cooking and food storage! I felt there was a great mix of products in this month’s box and there were a couple of full sized items too which I would say BB has been lacking in recent months.
I’m going to start with skincare as there were two of these items in my box, the first of which being Algologie Hydra-Replenishing Booster (Full sized RRP £33). “What’s that?” I hear you ask…I didn’t know at first either but I can tell you it’s a serum which claims to target hydration by “increasing water reserves in the epidermis”…I’ll take their word on that. Anyway, I actually really enjoyed using this, it’s a gel type consistency, applies well and sinks in quickly, leaving no residue and my skin felt really soft and moisturised. I would definitely consider purchasing the full sized bottle of this.
The second skincare item I received this month is the Huygens Elixir Night Concentrate (Full sized RRP £31). This oil claims to regenerate skin naturally leaving it hydrated, soft and glowing. This was a very small sample so didn’t last long, however a couple of drops mixed in with my night cream and my skin felt super soft bother before I went to bed and after I woke up. I wouldn’t say it the full sized option is overpriced at £31 so this is another product I’ll be adding to my wishlist!
Moving on to the sole hair product, we have Greenfrog Botanic Argan Oil & Rose Oil Shampoo Bar (Full sized RRP £4.95). We should all know by now that shampoo bars are the next big thing and I can full understand why…this is plastic free, 100% decomposable and made with 98% natural ingredients. I was very excited to receive this as I have been wanting to try a shampoo bar for ages but have always been wary about how they might not work for my hair. However, I needn’t have worried, this lathered up more than I expected and left my hair feeling clean and soft (not dry as I had imagined). The only slight issue I have is that I don’t currently have a dish to keep it in so it is a bit messy but this is something that can be easily resolved and I definitely want to get myself the full sized version. The question I have is, are conditioner bars a thing? I haven’t come across any but if they are, any suggestions or recommendations would be welcome!
The only product that I didn’t quite get on with this month was The Beauty Crop Fabulous Flocking Lashes (RRP £9). I am always on the lookout for a new mascara and love trying new ones from my beauty boxes and if I don’t like them, I feel it doesn’t matter as much as if I’ve paid full price for one. The reason I didn’t like this one very much is because I like my lashes with as much length and volume as possible and this definitely doesn’t do that. I found this barely did anything to my lashes and didn’t notice much of a difference at all…it does remove easily though which is a bonus. If you prefer a natural look then this may well be the mascara for you, but it’s definitely not the one for me.
The last item in this month’s box and my personal favourite is the Nails Inc Looking Super Juicy Nail Polish (Full sized RRP £11). This is very bright pink so probably not for everyone but I think it’s perfect for this time of year and will definitely be wearing it regularly whether on my fingers or toes! I found this polish applied really smoothly and is a strong, bright colour after just one coat (although I always apply two anyway). It only lasts a few days on my nails before it starts chipping but I do think that’s partly due to me spending a lot of time on the farm and with the horses so this doesn’t bother me at all.
So there you have it, April’s Birchbox in all it’s glory. I was really happy with this month’s offering. I loved the reusable pouch for a start, I’ll definitely be using it for food storage (especially as I keep losing my tubs). The products themselves were really great for me this month, I was especially happy to receive the nail varnish and shampoo bar. I also loved the skincare items and may repurchase both (although I wish the oil sample had been a bit bigger). The only item I didn’t like was the mascara as it just didn’t have enough impact for me, but that’s what you get with beauty boxes and I am still happy I was able to try it.
If you would like to join Birchbox, you can get 30% off a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription with this code https://birchbox.mention-me.com/m/ol/lo0be-kirsty-arnott
Until next time,
Kirsty x
lifewithkirstyjane.com 