And there’s May been and gone…I literally do not know where the time is going this year but I am not keeping up! The theme for May’s Birchbox was (Skinvestment) so you can probably guess it was going to be a skin heavy month! I had a bit of an issue with May’s box as it arrived and one of the products had leaked everywhere, destroying some of the contents inside…I’ll give BB their due, they got back to me the same day and sent out another box, although when it arrived it looked like it had been done a few rounds with Mike Tyson…but thankfully it was the box that had taken the hits and the products inside were unharmed. I received one full sized item this month and the rest were sample sizes which is not really any different to ususal with Birchbox but it would be nice to see some more larger sized products.
Seeing as there weren’t really any make-up products in this month’s box, I’ll start with skincare and the first item was the madebySUNDAY Super Serum (Full sized RRP £20). This serum contains hemp seed oil and watermelon seed oil to target redness and irritation as well as hydrating and soothing skin. I hadn’t heard of this product or brand before but I looked at the reviews and there were a whopping number of 5 stars so I had high hopes! I have to say, my skin has felt really soft and smooth since using this serum and I haven’t had any reactions which is always a bonus! I can’t say I’ve noticed a visible difference but I also haven’t been using it for that long…thankfully I have my second sample bottle waiting in the wings so I will be able to use it for a while longer before deciding whether this will become a fixture in my skincare routine. However, it is certainly looking positive at the moment.
Next up is the only full sized product in the box, the GLOV Brown Moon Pad Pro (full sized RRP £4.90). Now I know these reusable cleansing pads are better for the environment and a great thing to have, but I feel like I receive them every other month…I have so many lying around unopened I think I have a stash that will last me for years! However, in saying that…they will get used so I can’t really complain. Anyway, these are bamboo cotton pads which can be used with just water, or you can add make-up remover. I will admit that I haven’t opened these yet, purely because I have so many and I want to save them for when I need a new one. However, with my other pads, I just add water and wipe across my face and am always amazed by how quickly they remove my make-up! I do still cleanse afterwards but these pads really are so effective and get rid of heavy foundation, mascara…the works, in no time at all.
Moving on, we have the Korres Santorini Grape Body Cleanser (Full sized RRP £14). I am partial to a shower gel in my boxes so I was pleased to see this, another product I’d never tried before! First things first, this smells SO GOOD! It’s quite fruity, but not too sweet like some scented products can be. This claims to nourish and soften skin and I did feel like that was the case as my skin felt clean but not stripped of moisture…I didn’t really feel like I needed to moisturise afterwards (although I did anyway). I wouldn’t usually spend £14 on a shower gel but I would definitely buy this if I fancied treating myself.
Next up is a product I have received a few times before albeit not this version, the Dr Paw Paw Shea Butter Balm (Full sized RRP £9.25). This multi purpose balm can be used on anything from lips to elbows to cuticles and so on…basically anywhere that could do with a bit of TLC. However, I mainly use this on my lips and find it so soothing and comfortable. The consistency is thick but it doesn’t feel heavy or sticky on my lips (although I’m not sure I like the scent of this as much as the others). I find it can be a bit greasy on my skin but if my elbows are feeling particularly dry, this definitely does the trick. It’s also a fabulous product to have rolling around in a handbag or pocket!
Last but not least, the culprit that leaked all over my box, the Sunny Isle Root Repair Growth Oil (Full sized RRP £9.99). Another product I hadn’t heard of but very willing to try! This oil is full of natural ingredients including omega fatty acids and vitamin E and claims to nourish the scalp and reverse any damage to the hair. I was slightly confused by the idea of adding oil to my scalp rather than mid lengths and ends as I usually would. It turns out I was right to be worried, this left my hair looking so greasy and felt gross, definitely not the look I was going for. I’m going to persevere and try again as I don’t want to waste it but I can’t see this going on my list of must haves and there’s every chance it will make it’s way to the bin…I maybe shouldn’t have been too bothered that half of the bottle had leaked out when I received my box!
So there we have it, May’s box done and dusted…and it won’t be long before June’s is on it’s way! All in all I wouldn’t say this was the best box for me, the sizes were small and the only full sized item was something I have received many times before. I did really like the shower gel ,serum and multipurpose balm and I’ll get use out of the reusable pads, however, I think the hair oil is a definite no no from me and I will be steering well clear of it in the future! As usual though, it was great to try some new brands and discover new products that I will almost certainly use again.
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Until next time,
K x
lifewithkirstyjane.com 