Birchbox December 2014: Decked Out

Pretty sure my mind counts the passing of months in Birchboxes, because it didn’t quite settle in my head that it’s really mid-December now [seriously, guys, where has the time gone?]. To make the experience more festive, our samples were packaged in Limited Edition blue Holiday boxes, and as a bonus each subscriber received a $10 GAP gift card [you have to go to a webpage printed on one of the info cards to redeem it]. During the sample choice window for December I selected a rose gold eyeliner from Vasanti, so I knew tht even if the rest of my box ends up being foils of shampoo, I’d still be happy enough. Let’s see what I got!

HOW IT WORKS
Birchbox is a subscription service that delivers a box of luxury beauty samples to your doorstep every month. Subscribers receive 4-6 samples and sometimes even full-sized products. At $10/month Birchbox is one of the cheapest monthly beauty subscriptions out there, the value of each box usually ranges from at least $15 and can be as high as $60. They also have a nice reward program: for each completed product survey you get 10 points, every 100 points earns you $10 in Birchbox credits – a currency to use in their online store for full-sized products and even gift subscriptions. 
If you would like to use my referral link then click here to join Birchbox. Thank you!

Vasanti Kajal Extreme Intense Eye Pencil in Rose Gold – This was the sample I selected, and sounds like it was very popular. Several of my blogger friends requested one as well and didn’t get it because Birchbox only had a small number available, so I guess I happened to request one of the very last ones they had because I know I was pretty late to make a choice. I’m pleased to report that it’s everything I’d hoped it to be: creamy, pigmented, glides amazingly well without dragging, and has seriously good staying power [literally all day on my oily lids, all the way from am to late pm]. I think I might purchase more of these in other colors when I get enough Birchbox points. Each full-sized pencil conveniently comes with a smudger and a sharpener.

SeaRx Microdermabrasion Face and Body Scrub – I think this exfoliant was meant for sensitive skin, because it didn’t seem to remove any dead cells from me at all. It has a creamy silky consistency with very fine grit, and offered barely any scrubbing power. It’s certainly gentle, no doubt about that, but perhaps a bit too gentle for my liking.

Ojon rare blend oil Moisture Therapy – Ojon’s tricolor hair oil is considered to be a cult beauty product, but it just doesn’t seem to work any better than a regular argan oil for me. As with any hair oil, you only need a little bit, so a bottle of this treatment will last forever. For my fine hair I used two tiny drops; I rubbed my palms together and ran them through my hair to add shine and reduce frizz. I think this oil is better suited for someone with thick and coarse hair, because it has some softening properties that my fine thin locks don’t need.

RUSK Texture Spray – I didn’t used to style my hair much in the past, but recently I’ve been really digging the texturized look of tousled beachy waves, so I tried several products that help me achieve that effortless piecey volume. To my surprise, I actually liked this spray quite a bit. It offers medium hold, so that the hair isn’t limp or stiff. It adds a little bit of crunch, but not in a bad way. I don’t think this spray has the power to hold a fancy updo, but it’s perfect for everyday “messy” looks.

Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Rouge in Sydney – These liquid matte lipsticks from Mirenesse are exclusive to Birchbox, and judging from the description, they are exactly what I want to wear on my lips right now. I feel like matte shades really shine during cold Fall/Winter months, they just seem like the perfect match for the season. Before I even tried my sample, I peeked at the reviews at Birchbox.com: some ladies said it’s too messy to apply, some loved it, others said it didn’t stay on well. With mixed feelings, I put it on and on my word, sign me up for the fanclub – at least for me, this formula was wonderful! First of all, the wand is perfect for this type of product: it’s a scoop-shaped doe foot that has a slight curve to it to help with the application. It was so easy! Next, the pigmentation: one coat and you’re done, girl. This formula is loaded with color! Next, the feel: it applies silky smooth and feels like butter, which is more than I can say about 99% of matte lipsticks. And finally, the staying power: it lacks in the longevity department, and can be easily smudged so it’s not kiss-safe by any means. Also, the color is not exactly a matte, it has a slight sheen to it making it closer to a satin. Overall, these Lip Rouges are like an improved version of my favorite Milani Lip Intense, but creamier and with a better wand.

THE VERDICT
I thought this was a very solid box, with two amazing purchase-worthy makeup products, and a great hair spray that I used again today [I still like it a lot]. I feel like Birchbox really improved over the course of the past year, and looking at my early boxes I can definitely see a steady rise in quality and size of products we get. Looking forward to my January box now!