January 2016 Birchbox – Best. Year. Ever

I was genuinely surprised when Yodel rocked up on my doorstep on Saturday with a Birchbox parcel. I don’t know if I imagined cancelling my Birchbox subscription, dreamt it, cancelled it too late or whether it’s the incredibly misleading cancellation process which gets you to click on a tiny link saying “continue cancellation” rather than the massive one which says continue receiving Birchboxes – and at the last hurdle swaps the buttons around. But here I am with another Birchbox unboxing. This is the second box that I’ve had recently which has partnered with social inspiration giant Pinterest – with a bold box name, boldly claiming to give you the Best. Year. Ever.

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First inside the box was a series of postcards, I’ve put a couple of these on my fridge temporarily, these feel very my little box printesque, but not in a way that I want to stick them up all over my house. There was also a handy little handbag mirror with the phrase #nofilterneeded emblazoned across it – the only thing is I can imagine this getting scratched quickly as it’s not covered on the mirror side. But yet again this isn’t a box which really screams pinterest at me, no nail art products inspired by popular pins – or awesome hair styling products to get ideas worthy of the latest boards, I just don’t get why pinterest hasn’t come into their own on these collabs, there’s so much more they could do!

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Jelly Pong Pong Lighten Up – Full Size RRP £14.95

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I was a bit confused about what this was when it arrived, I thought it was the most unflattering lip colour. It’s a brightening eyeliner designed to be used on the water line to open up the eyes and make them look larger. I can’t imagine that this colour is going to be flattering on the eyes as it looks more like a concealer – but of course I’ll give it a go. The packaging is horrible I must say – who ever decided to put these shades of red and green and make everything unreadable needs a slap, designer to designer talk of course.

Benefit They’re Real Lash Primer – Sample Size Worth £5.18

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We received 2 benefit prodcuts last month, and now another – coming from a non benefit fan I do have to groan a little. I’ve already tried this out and have a first impressions coming up, but essentially it’s a pre-mascara

Whish Body Butter in Almond – Sample Size Worth £2.13

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I’ve looked into Whish products before, and I don’t think we’ve been able to get them in the UK until now. I’m normally a big fan of Almond scents, but there’s something about this one which smells a bit off – more like disarrano, a more alcoholic almond than a nice almond. I’ll use this up, in fact I might take this to New York as it will be a handy size for a couple of days away.

Absolution L’Eau Soir et Matin – Sample Size Worth £5.40

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This is a cleansing water – essentially a micellar water. This is pretty pricey full size product at £27, especially as it’s competing against my Garnier Micellar Water which is double the size and 10 times less pricey. This is very scented so I’m not sure how it’s going to work out around the eye area.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle – Sample Size Worth £1.60

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Anything with detangling in the name captures my attention, but it’s yet another product from Beauty Protector, which I’m just a bit bored of seeing! It’s an exclusive brand to Birchbox, (which makes me think it’s also made by Birchbox!) I think I may have had this in the past.


Here’s the problems I’ve discovered I have with Birchbox – the samples are smaller than any other box I am subscribed to, if you’re going to send me a cleansing water that’s £27 for a full size – I need more than 3 uses to convince me that it’s going to be better than my Garnier Micellar Water which can usually be bought on offer for £2-3. The repetition of brands is far worse than any other box, I’ve only been subscribed since October (other than 2 other boxes earlier in the year) and I’ve had 3 benefit samples, 2 from Absolution, 2 from Beauty Protector, 2 From Parlour. That I’m already getting like “this brand again?!”

 I have been tempted to stay subscribed for one more month as they’ve teased that they’re launching their LOC line in the UK for next month’s box (collaborated with Tati from Glam Life Guru who I adore – and products I’ve been admiring since she showed them on her channel) But I’ve decided to see other people’s unboxing’s as they arrive and decided whether it’s worth resubbing for a one off – or whether I should just buy some full size products from the shop myself. Or I may get a “please come back offer” that might make it half price for the month that will make it worth it!


Should you want to subscribe to Birchbox (after my glowing review haha!) If you use my referral link https://www.birchbox.co.uk/invite/helplesswhilstdrying this will give you £5 worth of points to spend in the Birchbox Shop.

rachael

Instagram: @helplesswhilstdrying  |  Twitter: @helplessdrying

Helpless Whilst Drying

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14 Comments

  1. January 13, 2016 / 7:39 am

    Yes! Thank you! I always say the same as your observation of the disadvantages (problems) with Birchbox. That’s why I dislike receiving skincare and hair care samples in my subscriptions (except for the one you said you are feeling a bit bored, that smells amazeballs! hehe): you need way more than the samples they send, and also because I prefer organic skincare/hair care. I stick to ipsy although they also send them, but much less than BB oriented more to a spa-like theme. Boxycharm is also amazing because they send 4 to all the samples in full size, including eye shadow palettes, my kinda subscription TBH. PS: Following! Great and cute pics!

    • January 13, 2016 / 8:35 am

      Unfortunately we don’t get Ipsy or boxy charm in the uk – hopefully one day we will do! It’s just annoying that after such a short number of months that I’ve been subscribed there’s already a heavy repetition of brands – let alone products I know I’ve received 2 eyeliners for example I wonder if i started comparing products there would also be repetition. Thanks for following 🙂 xx

  2. Tou89Lou UK Lifestyle Blog
    January 13, 2016 / 4:02 pm

    I had that de-tangle spray in a previous Birchbox- its amazing on my frizzy hair!!

    • January 13, 2016 / 4:21 pm

      Ooh interesting! I’m planning on taking it away with me in a few weeks because it’s small – but I’ll give it a test run to check it works for me first! xx

  3. January 13, 2016 / 3:32 pm

    I have a MAC liner that’s flesh coloured and it really does wonders – you need to apply it on the lower water line (not lash line) and it gives an awake look!
    I agree, a very disappointing box. Not worth sticking around even with the promise of LOC (which I’m also curious about!)

    • January 13, 2016 / 4:25 pm

      I didn’t even mean the lash line – i’ll amend that now (note to self don’t write posts at 11pm!). Good to hear it does work though, I’ll give it a go – the consistency of this screams benefit it stick to me which is so thick and dry, not sure how it will feel on the eyes. I have cancelled now and decided to just wait and see what next month’s box contains. Alternatively if we end up near the Birchbox shop in new york I might just pop in and get what I’m interested in there – no doubt it’s cheaper than what we’d get it for!

  4. January 13, 2016 / 7:48 pm

    I completely agree on the scent of that bloody body butter – thats definitely not almond scented. I’m really disappointed in the Benefit lash primer too – it’s basically a brown mascara!

  5. January 14, 2016 / 2:09 pm

    Cute but yes, seems a disappointing box! I didn’t last more than 2 months with Birchbox, lol!

    • January 14, 2016 / 3:21 pm

      Seems to be a recurring theme that most people seem to either not be happy with it, or have tried it and cancelled after not very long!

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  7. February 5, 2016 / 10:19 pm

    Oh no I just subscribed ha! Any recommendations on what’s better?

    • February 5, 2016 / 10:52 pm

      Oh no! I’ve looked st this months and it does look better! I’ve just subscribed to look incredible – definitely worth checking out based on what I’ve seen so far, mine should arrive tomorrow!

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