Lots of things happened in March this year: my parents stayed over for 2 weeks, we drove to NYC and walked our shoes off exploring the city for three days, then drove to Washington DC and saw a whole bunch of things there, too… It was quite an adventure! Needless to day, I got a lot of mail while I was gone, and Birchbox March 2015 was in that pile. This month I chose to select a hair spray as my PYS [pick your sample] product, so I knew I would like at least one of the goodies. In the end, the entire box was full of win!
HOW IT WORKS: At $10/month Birchbox subscribers receive 4-6 luxury samples and full-sized beauty products, tailored for them by a team of curators according to a personalized beauty profile. The value of each box usually ranges from at least $15 and can be as high as $60. Birchbox also has a reward program: submitting feedback for every product from the box earns you 10 points each; and every 100 points turns into $10 in store credit redeemable for full-sized products and gifts. If you would like to use my referral link then click here to join Birchbox. Thank you!
Whish Three Whishes Body Butter – My sample came in Lavender, and it’s probably the only product I know that smells stronger on the skin than it does in the tube. The formula is wonderful – silky, creamy, very moisturizing, with powdery non-sticky finish and a trace of fragrance that just might overpower my perfume. It can be a good or a bad thing, depending on whether or not you like the scent. This one is sort of like a floral lavender, and smells like air freshener to me, so I probably wouldn’t wear it during the daytime, but it made my legs feel absolutely amazing after the shower. I’m kind of tempted to pick it up in Almond now.
amika Bombshell Blowout Spray because why not, right? Out of all the options, I opted in for this spray as my PYS choice, and I’m glad I did. It’s boring, but practical, and something I can actually use on daily basis. I have a lot of hair, but it’s all flat and fine, so I need all the help I can get when it comes to achieving bouncy volume. I have to say, I love bright and fun packaging of all amika products, and they usually smell amazing, too. I just wish this spray also helped retain that volume, but that’s a job for other products, I guess.
Paula’s Choice RESIST Moisture Renewal Oil Booster – Paula’s Choice is like a version of Korean skin care, but from the US: think clean and effective formulas at affordable price point. This new oil-serum is ideal for dry and dehydrated skin, and mine has been all kinds of crazy this winter, with oily t-zone and dry, tight, flaky, and itchy cheeks, so I kept applying regular argan oil topically under the moisturizer to remedy the situation. This blend of oils is a good change of pace, and it’s not only effective, but also has a pleasant natural fragrance to it. So far I really like it, and this sample is large enough to last me through the rest of this cold season.
Mirenesse Glossy Kiss – From all the different shades sent out, I received Perfect Kiss: a bright warm shimmery coral. It’s gorgeous to look at, and just as beautiful when applied to lips or cheeks. It’s a giant sample, too, and I will be rocking it for months to come.
Etat Libre d’Orange Like This – Created in collaboration with amazingly talented actress-chameleon Tilda Swinton, this fragrance captures the spirit of her homeland in Scotland with notes of yellow tangerine, ginger, pumpkin, immortelle, Moroccan neroli, Grasse rose, vetiver, heliotrope, and musk. This is a very unusual scent that smells like something strong, sensual, yet still classic, and it makes the wearer impossible to go unnoticed. It’s the good kind of “mature” fragrance, the one that’s really cool, but in a grown up, sophisticated kind of way. I have never smelled anything like it before!
THE VERDICT: The verdict is out, and if I had confetti, I’d be throwing it up in the air, because this box was a smashing success. I found the perfect shade of red for my complexion, and discovered one of the coolest-smelling fragrances – what’s not to love?
What was the last product that impressed you?
| Product | Retail value |
|---|---|
| Whish Three Whishes Body Butter | $3.52 |
| amika Bombshell Blowout Spray | $3.00 |
| Paula’s Choice RESIST Moisture Renewal Oil Booster | $6.12 |
| Mirenesse Glossy Kiss | $11.00 |
| Etat Libre d’Orange Like This | $2.55 |
| Box Retail Value | $26.19 |
Disclosure: This post features products purchased by Glamorable and may contain affiliate or referral links. For more details about my product review policy, copyright, and information about affiliate links, please refer to Disclosures & Content Use page.
Paula’s Choice RESIST Moisture Renewal Oil Booster is one of my HG products. It’s amazing for my skin.
Glad to hear that! It was my first time trying that serum, and it made my tight cheeks feel amazingly soft.
I received the Whish Almond Body Butter in my Birchbox this month! I think you’ll like it. It’s a little strong, and I can kind of detect floral notes (which sounds weird, but it makes sense when you smell it), but it’s a good product for nighttime. I agree–the formula is so nice!
I totally get what you mean by “strong”, the fragrance really develops while you rub the lotion over the skin. I love all things Almond, so it’s good to know that the scent is pleasant. Maybe I’ll include a tube with my next Birchbox points haul 🙂
That Mirenesse Glossy Kiss looks amazing! And that color is right up my alley.
Right? That’s shimmery coral perfection right there.
I want to try the Whish Body Butter and the Paula’s Choice Renweal Oil Booster.
I think you would like both of them, they are universal enough to be used by all skin types.
I would have liked this box.
It was a good one.
Our boxes are so different! I really like what you got!
Now I want to go check out your review 🙂 These boxes are supposed to be customized according to our beauty profiles, so you probably got products more suited for your concerns.
Ooh I’m jealous you got the whish body butter! Hoping for one in my next box
Fingers crossed for you! 🙂
Birchbox has improved. I’d like the PC Renewal Oil Booster the best although the Mirenesse would be nice if it wasn’t too dark for me.
Birchbox customized boxes according to the beauty profile (or at least they say they do), so you probably would have received a different color. And yes, I agree, they have definitely improved – I’ve been impressed with most of my boxes lately.
I would love everything in this box. Do you know if it still available?
Hi Cindy! Unfortunately, this box is not available anymore, because Birchbox is already preparing our April shipments.
That fragrance sounds amazing! You got a great box.
It’s very unique!
I like how you equated Paula’s Choice to Korean skincare products. Great observation!
Thank you! I’ve always felt that Paula’s Choice products are often overlooked by the blogging community, but they are very often better than the mainstream formulas from department stores.
What a great box! I love the look of that Mirenesse crayon. I’ve tried their products before and loved everything.
It’s a great crayon, and looks fab on lips and cheeks 🙂 I think I loved all of the Mirenesse products I tried, except for that one curly mascara sample – it just didn’t work for me.
That lippie looks right up my alley. I didn’t know Birchbox was letting you choose a sample now. Is that every month or was that just something special?
Yep, it’s something they’re now doing every month. In addition to being able to choose one sample for your box, you can choose to receive one of the curated boxes with contents fully revealed. They’ve been doing this for maybe half a year now? In April there are two curated boxes, and both are collabs with Mad Men show 😉
This looks like a fun box. I think the crayon and fragrance intrigue me.
They are both the highlights of this box.
I am obsessed with Amika…I am glad it landed in your box!
I actually chose it for my box, because I’m in love with their products, too. And the packaging is so fun and bright!
I really like Amika too!
They have some great products, and pretty packaging is always a fun bonus 🙂
Wow, this is so much better than when I use to subscribe to Birchbox!
I know right? They really improved a lot, and I almost never see foil samples anymore.