January Birchbox Haul

Hello friends,
​
Happy New Year!  I'm heading into this year with a Birchbox subscription Evan gifted to me for Christmas.  I've had my eye on this for a while now, so needless to say I was pretty excited to receive a box of goodies.

In this post I'll be sharing my first Birchbox of 2018.  I've included each product description as well as my thoughts after trying out the samples.
You can check back mid-month, each month to see an unboxing haul!

Let's delve into the box details and see what's inside!

what's birchbox?!

If you're a late to the Birchbox bandwagon like I was,
​Birchbox is a beauty box subscription for women and men!

January birchbox summary

Your Birchbox will arrive in your mailbox monthly

Each month has a new box design theme and card insert

Inside you'll find a note, a beauty inventory list, and your five samples

You can tailor the items in your box upon completion of your beauty profile

The Products

amika

Perk Up Dry Shampoo

This weightless spray has the brand's signature Obliphica scent. It refreshes second- (or third-) day hair with rice starch that absorbs oil, boosts volume, and enhances shine.

my thoughts

Coincidentally, one week before receiving my box, I mentioned to a friend how convenient it would be to carry around a mini dry shampoo for beauty emergencies.  So, I was pretty excited when I saw this in my box.

I tried this product on my second-day hair and found it to be similar to other dry shampoos; scented and left a slight white cast.  Although the product worked, it wasn't quite right for me.  I think blondes have an advantage over brunettes when it comes to using dry shampoo.

I tend to wash my hair daily and it's very rare that I reach for dry shampoo, but when I do this is what solves my hair faux pas!

beautaniq beauty

​Blush Serum - Sunrise

This lightweight, water-based blush gives your cheeks a healthy flush, while nourishing your skin with apricot seed and vitamin E oil.

my thoughts

I believe this was the first non-powder blush I've ever tried, and I liked it.
When I opened the container, I thought the pink color was going to be too pigmented.  Instead, I found that the color was buildable and easy to control.  I think this is a great color for your cheeks, but I did not like it on my lips.

The current blush I'm loving in makeup bag is this one in the shade "paaarty".

coola

Mineral Face SPF 30 Unscented Matte Tint

A mineral-based BB cream that hydrates, evens skin tone, protects from UV rays, and has a matte finish. Shake bottle before using, then smooth a thin layer onto face.

my thoughts

I was happily surprised by this product, considering that I thought it would be my least favorite product in the box.  I was expecting it to be white like a normal sunscreen, but it wasn't - it was a nude foundation color.  Once I applied it to my skin, I realized the texture was also unlike typical sunscreen.  I'd have to compare it to L'Oréal's Magic Perfecting Base with it's silky, smooth texture.  It get's even better with this product, because it doesn't smell like sunscreen and it's not greasy.  I will most definitely be purchasing the full size product!

doucce cosmetics

Freematic Eyeshadow Single - Veronica

Wear this shade solo or with the exclusive Doucce x Birchbox Freematic Eyeshadow Quad.

my thoughts

I'm always up to try a new eyeshadow and this one falls in the shade range that I lean towards.  I think this color pairs great with my skin tone/eye color and it would make a great addition to my current collection.  Two pallets you can always find in my makeup bag are this one and this one.

real chemistry

Luminous 3-Minute Peel

Apply this gentle acid-free peel to clean, dry skin for a gorgeous glow. Massage in circular motions to exfoliate, then wash skin with a mild cleanser to remove.

my thoughts

This peel was exactly what I needed to exfoliate after being on vacation up north and in Florida's cooler temps.  I've been doing some research on chemical peels, so I feel like this was a great product to test the waters with.  This peel gave me instant gratification during and after using it.  I washed it off with this cleanser, applied my favorite toner, and moisturizer.  I'm considering buying the full size product!

Click here to subscribe to Birchbox.  Next haul coming mid February!