Birchbox | June & July Boxes!

Morning!

Recently I signed up for a monthly subscription to Birchbox. For those of you who don't know, Birchbox is a fantastic monthly service where you get delivered samples of different items across a variety of brands. For £10 a month (excluding p&p) you get sent 5 samples plus a little lifestyle bonus. I signed up right at the end of June, so I managed to get both June & July's boxes at around the same time. Hence why this post is so long; I'm going to talk about what I got in both months, hoorah! :)

June Birchbox

My June Birchbox - World Cup themed! The lovely people over at birchbox worked hard on this one, finding beauty gems from all across the globe to fit in with the football theme.

Caudalie Vinoperfect SPF15 Day Perfecting Fluid - 10ml

(France)

RRP £38 40ml.

Whether you’re spending the day at the beach or running errands, this multitasking moisturiser will brighten, correct and retexturise the skin. The oil-free formula smooths lines, minimises pores and reduces dark spots, thanks to a concentrate of active ingredients that treat and correct. Say hello to a happier, more radiant complexion.

Caudalie is one of many brands I've heard of before, but never been given the chance to try. That's the beauty of this box! The fluid promises to brighten and correct the skin, which is something I'm in dire need of. My skin often looks patchy and dull, so I'm looking forward to trying out this item.

Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain

(USA)

RRP £20.95 Full Size.

This is a long-lasting Lip and Cheek stain that adjusts to your own chemistry. In other words, it looks different on everyone. Olive butter, avocado butter and wild rose wax soothe and nourish the delicate lip membranes. All the ingredients in Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain have been chosen for their conditioning and moisturizing properties. The delicious pomegranate flavor also acts as an antioxidant.

Jane Iredale is a brand I've never heard of before I'll admit. The sample of this product is a super cute and teeny balm, and the colour is a gorgeous pale pink. I'm intrigued as to the 'it looks different on everyone' aspect though, sounds interesting!

Silk + Honey Shea Butter Hair Conditioning Mask - 50ml

(England)

RRP £55.00 For Full DIY Set.

This deeply nourishing mask protects and softens hair, while fortifying it's elasticity. Apply once or twice a week after shampoo. Leave in for 10-15 minutes and rinse.

I can honestly say I've not had the pleasure of hearing of this brand before. But as a big fan of anything that will make my hair softer, I'm eager to try this. It smells absolutely divine too - I can't wait for my hair to smell of coconut!

Aromatherapy Associates London - Revive Morning Bath and Shower Oil - 3ml

(England)

RRP £39.00 55ml.

When you need an added burst of energy in the morning – and coffee is just not enough – use Aromatherapy Associates Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil to feel more awake and ready to go. The combination of grapefruit, rosemary and juniper essential oils refresh and invigorate. Aromatherapy Associates pride themselves on using only the best quality ingredients – nothing harmful or artificial – and ensure every ingredient plays a positive role in the product.

Again another brand I've heard of, but never tried! Birchbox is opening so many new doors for me I swear. This really appeals to me in the fact that I need all the help I can get waking up in the mornings, so if it does indeed make you feel more awake and ready to go it will definitely be going on my 'must-have' list! 

OPI Nail Lacquer - 3.75ml (Brazil Collection)

RRP £11.50 for 15ml.

Pick a colour, any colour – chances are OPI has it, or something close. The US- based company is known for its wide range of nail lacquers (all DBP-, toluene-, and formaldehyde-free) with unique hues and whimsical names often inspired by places.

OPI is yet again one of the brands I've always wanted to try when it comes to nail polishes. I've seen blogger after blogger rave about them, but could never seem to find them in any stores near me. I didn't want to just order online as I wanted to see the product before I'd purchased it, so getting this in my June Birchbox made me squeal a bit in delight!

Finally, as a lifestyle extra, I got this cute Brazil inspired keyring. I love the cute little flipflop, and have already attached this to my keys :)

June Birchbox

There it is - my June Birchbox! I couldn't have imagined a better box for my first delivery, and I'm so happy with all the items!

July Birchbox

Returning from a bad day at work one day, my mood was immediately lifted when I saw this little beauty waiting for me. Afterall, I'd only received my June box the week before. Oh well, I certainly wasn't complaining! :) The box goes by the theme 'Sun, Sea and Sand' to fit in with the summer season.

Laqa & Co Sheer Lip Lube in Menatour (Purple)

RRP £14 For Full Size.

LAQA & Co. aims to arm women everywhere with not only the highest quality lip and nail products possible, but also the most convenient lip and nail products possible. From a day of errands to a friend of a friend’s house party to an impromptu selfie, this easy-to-use lip pencil provides high gloss and sheer colour, no sharpener required.

Yet again another brand I'm vaguely aware of (sorry!). However I adore this product as lip crayons/pens/sticks (whatever you want to call them) are my addiction. I absolutely love them and I seriously can't get enough. The colour is certainly going to be interesting though - I can't say I've ever had purple lips before!

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream - 7ml

RRP £20.00 for 15ml

You'll be wide-eyed with wonder once you try this eye cream. The three in one multi-tasking formula softens, smooths and brightens thanks to its unique blend of Roman chamomile, lemon cucumber oil, witch hazel, anti-oxidant spruce knot, virgin coconut, rosehip oil and carrot oil. It also manages that amazing feat of being rich but not heavy and easy absorbing.

Since purchasing and using my Benefit It's Potent! eye cream, I've become amazed at how crucial eye creams have become in my everyday routine. I'm intrigued to see if it works as well for me as the It's Potent!

Whish Three Whishes Lavender Body Butter - 22ml

RRP £14.50 For 150ml.

From no-calorie cupcakes to pinch-free stilettos, we admit that we’re prone to wishful thinking. Another item near the top of our if-only-it-were-real list: a truly non-greasy body lotion. Much to our surprise, this decadent organic body butter fits the bill. Organic aloe, shea butter and raspberry butter conquer dryness, while organic seaweed extract contains naturally high levels of skin-firming peptides. The formula also includes organic rice bran oil, a natural source of tocotrienols, a potent antioxidant that defeats free radicals and provides UV protection. 

I've got to hold my hands up here and say when it comes to body butters or lotions post-shower, I very, very rarely use them. Which is probably why I suffer from dry skin time to time. I never used to like how greasy my skin felt afterwards, which is why this product is perfect for me. It promises to be non-greasy and conquer dryness - my dream come true!

Models Own Nail Polish in 'Aqua Splash' - 14ml

RRP £5.00 for 14ml.

A cheeky mani can inject a little personality into any look and this glittery polish is oh-so-fun! The clear base coat is packed full of numerous colourful glitters in various shapes and sizes. We love how Models Own brings catwalk trends to the high street with their fashion-forward nail polishes!

With this item and the following one, I did a little scream and dance when I discovered them in my July Birchbox! Only days before I'd been shopping in town with my mum (haul to come soon) and oohing and aahing over which Models Own polish to buy. In the end, I left empty handed as I couldn't decide between colours. So to get this in my box was perfect! Blue is definitely the most flattering colour for me, so I'm really eager to try this out.

Benefit 'The Porefessional' Primer - 7.5ml

RRP £24.50 - 22ml.

Of all the beauty minefields out there, visible pores are one of the trickiest to dodge. Foundation alone doesn’t do the trick, which is why we turn to the UK's no.1 bestselling primer to shrink our pores. We use the translucent balm as a primer in the mornings or as a touch-up treatment throughout the day. Perfect T-zone, here we come! The silky, oil-free formula diffuses pores and fine lines for an “airbrushed” finish. It goes on sheer, leaving skin even and smooth. Don’t we all love instant gratification?

As I mentioned above, I recently went shopping into Derby town centre. Since getting my makeup done at the Benefit counter a while back, I've been obsessed with all things Benefit, and the Porefessional was high on my wishlist. In town I was mulling over buying this before my mum talked me out of it (queue sulking). However it turned out to be in my best interest as a couple days later I received it in the post! Must be mothers intuition eh?! Anyway, after many a dance over getting this, I can't wait to put it to the test!

As my lifestyle extra, this month I received a 4 sided nail buffer. Is it bad that I've never used anything like this before on my nails? Oh well - new things to try I guess!

July Birchbox

So there it is - my July Birchbox! With both my boxes I'm really pleased so far. I'd been thinking of signing up for a monthly beauty box for a while, but didn't really know which one to go for. But I can't fault Birchbox at all!

How about you, what did you get in your boxes? What did you think?

❤