May Birchbox Review

Two weeks ago I received my May Birchbox and have tested the products enough to offer a full review. Overall, this Birchbox was a bit of a flop for me, especially in comparison to the April Birchbox which I was obsessed with.

 The 4 deluxe samples I received are:

1. Bulgari Mon Jasmin Noir- Birchbox describes this perfume as possessing "waves of ripe fruit and a base of heady jasmine." When I opened my Birchbox I suspected that I would not be fond of this scent, and I assumed correctly. Admittedly I generally dislike ultra feminine floral scents, but this one straight up had that dreaded "old lady" smell. No thanks!
2. Erno Laszlo Transphuse Night Serum- The full sized bottle of this stuff retails for $120 and is intended to firm skin and fight-wrinkles. Although I don't have wrinkles, I am all about preventative skincare so I gave this a try anyways. I got maybe 3 or 4 uses out of it, which is too few to really notice much of a change in the quality of your skin. Actually, I am glad that I didn't fall in love with this because there is no way I would shell out almost 200 bucks on something like this.
3. Archipelago Pomegranate Soap- I read some reviews of this month's Birchbox and several people hated how this soap smelled. I actually kind of like it, but the product itself doesn't work for me. Like most bar soaps, I felt like this one stripped my skin dry.
4. Stila Eyeshadow in Jade- This is definitely the redeeming product of this month's box. This amazingly is a full sized shadow, which retails for $18 so although I didn't like the other products this month's box was still a good deal. Jade, a shimmery gem-toned medium green, is not a color I would typically gravitate towards, but I ended up adoring the look I created with it.

I also received a few little extras in the box:

• 2 samples each of Oribe Beautiful Color Shampoo and Conditioner- I gave these a whirl, and actually needed to open both packets to get enough products to wash and condition my long hair. I really did not like this shampoo and conditioner- I felt that it left my hair very dry.
• A card by Tiny Prints- This card is cute and it is nice to have a blank one around for one of those situations where you forget to  pick up a card.

I am hoping that June's Birchbox is better than this one. How did you like your May Birchbox?

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Posted in Archipelago , Birchbox , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , Erno Laszlo , Oribe , Stila

May Birchbox

I was so excited to see that my May Birchbox arrived in the mail today! I didn't expect to receive it so early in the month. I gleefully opened my goodies, which supposedly fit into Birchbox's 'Mother's Day'/tried and true theme, but I unfortunately can't say I was as thrilled as I was last month. Here are my first impressions.

Size isn't always everything, but I noticed right away that the treats in this month's box were significantly smaller than April's.

 The 4 deluxe samples I received are:

1. Bulgari Mon Jasmin Noir- Birchbox describes this perfume as possessing "waves of ripe fruit and a base of heady jasmine." Generally,  I steer clear of fruity and flowery scents and opt for warmer, spicy one. My assumption is that this one won't suit me, but I will give it a shot.
2. Erno Laszlo Transphuse Night Serum- This puppy is itty-bitty. This nightly serum is claimed to firm the skin and fight-wrinkles, of which I has many as a sage 23 year old...This must be liquid gold, as it retails for a whopping $190 for 1 ounce! If you do the math, then the tiny .01 ounce sample is worth $19. That is insanity. 
3. Archipelago Pomegranate Soap- When I opened my box, I was immediately struck by the lovely scent of this soap. I typically prefer shower gels over bar soaps, but I adore pomegranate so I am excited to see if this changes my mind. Birchbox says it also contains white tea, which is where I believe the delicious scent derives from.
4. Stila Eyeshadow in Jade- This is the redeeming product of this month's box. Although green is not a color I often go for on my lids and this looks similar to the few greens I own already, I have never owned a Stila shadow and am eager to try this one out. Jade is a soft green with olive undertones and a shimmery finish. This amazingly is a full sized shadow, which retails for $18 so I suppose I did get a good value out of this month's box if only for this product.

Also included are a few extras:

• 2 samples each of Oribe Beautiful Color Shampoo and Conditioner- I am not really looking for a new hair care line, but these little packets are always handy for travel.
• A card by Tiny Prints- This is a cute little add in and I am sure I will find a use for it. Of course I would have loved to see the stationary replaced by another beauty related sample.

Did you get your Birchbox yet? What are your first impressions? For those who got a Stila shadow, did you get a different shade? Let me know!

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Posted in Archipelago , Birchbox , Bulgari , Erno Laszlo , Oribe , Stila