Product Junkie Review: Birchbox November 2014

October was an interesting month for subscriptions.  I received my first Ipsy box this month and between Ipsy and Birchbox I managed to get a blend of products I both loved and wasn't so crazy about.  Overall, I would have to say that I was pretty pleased because the products I got that were really great pretty much made the ones I wasn't so pleased with look not too bad.


Not Soap, Radio Body Wash ($16.00/13.61 fl. oz./402.5 ml) “Awash in a Field of Four-Leaf Clover” is a fragrance with actual four-leaf clover extract from Ireland and green tea to tone and calm the skin.  From the first sniff, I knew it was going to be one of my favorite products and so far it really has been!  I look forward to showering!  The scent is pleasant and enjoyable while in the shower, but doesn't linger long so to interfere with lotions or perfumes you might apply later.  Not only did it smell good, but got me clean and left my skin feeling good.  Plus...it is free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates and are never tested on animals.  This was definitely one of my favorite products in this box!


Royal Apothic Cuppa Cuppa Firming Tea Treatment Mask ($58.00/6 tubes .33 oz each) This was my chosen sample selection this month and I was lucky enough to get it.  I was thrilled!!!

This smells AWESOME.  The texture was nice and it applied smoothly.  I was not thrilled about the way it felt on my face... not exactly a burning, but kind of a cooling mentholyptus feeling that I don't care for in any product.  When I washed my face, it rinsed off easily and without harsh scrubbing or needing to use a scrub or cleanser to get all of the product off (which often happens to me).  When I rinsed the first thing I noticed was how fresh faced I felt.  I put on a heavy night moisturizer, and I actually texted a friend to tell her that I felt like my face had just given birth to a new face.  It was an incredible feeling!  I did experience a little redness, but it went away.  There was no dryness and at one point I moved my nose to the side to look at some dryness I had been experiencing on the side and some blackheads that were on top of my nose actually cleared themselves out!  Totally interesting and new experience.  I will definitely be investing in some of this in the future.







Laura Mercier Longwear Crème Eye Pencil ($24.00)  Man, I have been getting a lot of eyeliner lately.  And quite a few purple ones too now that I think about it.  I really didn't notice much of a difference about this one.  The color is nice, pretty true to what is represented.  I didn't notice anything unusual or extraordinary about how long it lasted.  I don't think I'd purchase it for myself because it is a $24.00 eyeliner, but I'm glad I got to try it.  What I can say is that this item actually didn't make it into my box and was supposed to.  Which meant that I got to contact Customer Service for my first missing item ever.  And they were an absolute dream! 







Vosges Petits Chocolats ($20.00/4.8 oz) I would do anything for chocolate, but I don't know about these Vosges Petits Chocolats. 70% cacao dark chocolate shell filled with rich sugar caramel, which comes in four distinct flavors: black salt caramel, pink Himalayan crystal salt caramel, smoke & stout caramel, and blood orange caramel.  I happened to get the Pink Himalayan Crystal Salt Caramel.  I like pink Himalayan sea salt.  It was delicious and completely wonderful.  I love salted caramel that actually tastes like it is salted.  But, $20.00 for 12 caramels is a bit much even for me.





 
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen  ($43.00/1.7oz)  I received a small, magazine sample size of this as a "bonus" with my Laura Mercier eyeliner this month. I didn't even bother because I don't think I'd really get an idea of what I think about it in order to really comment on it. 







Klorane Floral Water Make-up Remover with Soothing Cornflower ($23.00/13.5 fl oz)  This was super gentle and removed my eye-makeup pretty well.  I've been taking a more "relaxed" approach to my eye makeup as of late, but this definitely combated my mascara pretty well and removed effectively for something so gentle.  I probably won't be purchasing it any time soon, but definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a product like this.

Atelier Cologne Absolute Santal Carmin ($195.00/100mL)  I am really unhappy about this cologne.  I received my sample in a small bag with a postcard.  At first sniff, I wasn't sure what to think.  But then I actually put it on and fell in love.  This scent makes me happy and it lasts for hours and hours.  I got more than 10 hours wear with this and could still smell it when I went home after an 11 hour day.  That is incredible and it smells amazing.  So what am I so unhappy about?  The fact that this is something I really can not afford.  I'm going to be saving Birchbox points forever for this one!




Overall, Birchbox was an excellent investment this month.  For people who wonder if Birchbox is worth it, I'd like to point out that in my box I received an entire .33oz tube of the Cuppa Cuppa Mask and when you purchase it you get six; that one sample alone was worth nearly $10 and so worth it!  While I hope not to see anymore eyeliners or tiny, magazine size samples, this month's winning products were totally worth it!

Looking to sign up?  CLICK HERE

And if you gift someone with Birchbox, you get a free box for every subscription you gift someone!!