Another three months, another Birchbox recap.
Klorane dry shampoo | PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing & Repairing shampoo and conditioner | Wilma Schumann Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads | ModelCo lipstick in Kitty | POP Beauty eyeshadow
Okay, first of all, I think I've found my new favorite dry shampoo. It does its job SO WELL without leaving behind that kind of gross, chalky/gritty feeling all over my hair, which is always a struggle. It comes in a regular formula as well as a "natural tint" that's supposed to be great for those of us with dark hair; I didn't notice much in the way of that white-grey residue you sometimes get with dry shampoo, so whatever they've done with the natural tint seems to be a good choice. I haven't tried out the shampoo and conditioner samples yet, as the conditioner came in a little paper tube that's not exactly conducive to use and re-use, but I will say they're pretty well-sized samples. I'm going to have to remember to break them out the next time I run out of normal hair washing supplies. I did actually really love those eye pads; I didn't read enough about them to know their full intended purpose, but they left my under-eye area feeling so soft and smooth. The ModelCo lipstick is a full-sized sample, as far as I can tell, but mine arrived broken at the base so it's a bit difficult to use - which is a huge bummer, as the shade is a lovely neutral and the formulation is really nice.
Benefit Roller Lash mascara | Caudalie Instant Detox mask | Caudalie Eau Micellaire Démaquillante | Too Cool for School DINOPLATZ HIGHLIGHTER | CLEAN White Woods eau de parfum | 12 Benefits hair treatment
Yay October! This month was basically the month of mascara - as the monthly sample choice, you got to pick out which variety you wanted. I picked out the Roller Lash mascara out of curiosity, as I'd heard a lot of great things about it previously but don't normally spend that much on makeup, and wow - I have to agree with a lot of the hype. It did a great job on my lashes and also was fairly easy to remove in the shower - which, as we probably all know, can be a bit tricky when it comes to mascara. I haven't tried out the Caudalie mask or the highlighter yet, but I have been trying out the micellar water as a makeup remover. It did a great job on my eye makeup on a day when I went whole-hog and wore eyeshadow WITH EYELID PRIMER, but admittedly it struggled a bit with removing all of my mascara. The 12 Benefits hair treatment smells delightful and has been leaving my hair feeling really soft [plus, admittedly, I love the bright pink packaging].
LOC One & Done Shadow Stick in Impress Me | amika Nourishing Mask | RUSK Hair Care Elixir mist | Temple Spa La La Lagoon shower gel | Dr. Lipp Miracle Balm
November's box is notable for Birchbox's inclusion of a sample from its recently launched makeup line, LOC [Love of Color]; subscribers got to select either a shadow stick or a matte lipstick from this first collection, curated by YouTuber Tati Westbrook. I obviously picked out a shadow stick - both the Birchbox staff and Tati herself kept raving about the color of the Impress Me shade, such that it ultimately won out over my huge love of red lipsticks...and that says something. It truly is a beautiful rose gold-y color, and the formulation is wonderfully creamy and blendable and long-lasting. It's got me actually wanting to put effort into wearing makeup, haha. That lip balm is a shockingly tiny sample; it's a struggle to squeeze any product out, there's so little in there. I will say, it did feel quite nice the two times I've managed to get some on my lips. I tried out the RUSK hair mist a couple of times and didn't notice a huge difference after blow drying, but it smells nice and it didn't leave my hair with any sort of icky residue kind of feeling, so maybe I need to play around with it a bit more. That shower gel, though - good grief, I love that scent so much. I can't quite put my fingers on what it is [the description says mint, basil, and and peppermint], but it strikes me as this mix of clean and woodsy and a little bit musky. It's different, and delightful.
I also purchased the Limited Edition Everyday Glamour box a month or two ago, with the assistance of a pretty sizeable coupon. It's definitely a purchase I didn't need to make, but I was fairly intrigued by the samples included [you can click through to read about its contents - it's a lot of things to try to link here]. The brand Smith & Cult seems to have really taken off on Instagram lately [among other places], so it was fun to get to try out one of their lipglosses. I wish you could have some say over what colors you end up with, as the light pink I received probably would not have been my first choice, but the Jouer eyeshadow came in a very nice beige-y taupe-y shade, so that makes up for things a bit.
So anyway, there we have it. The Birchbox addiction is still going strong; in conjunction, I've also gotten really into makeup for what is probably the first time in my life. My very bare bones routine normally comprises a bit of black eyeliner and a swipe of mascara when I was feeling particularly bold, for whatever reason I've been inspired to try out a bit more and learn how to actually do things with the vast amounts of stuff I've accumulated over the past couple of years. And you know what? It's a lot of fun. I feel like I finally get makeup...not that I know what to do with it yet, but whatevs.
For those of you who are interested, if you sign up for Birchbox using my referral link, you'll get your first box for $5 off! And considering Birchbox is only $10/month to start, that's a pretty great steal. [And then I also get credited $5 to my account, so really, we all win]