Birchbox | May 2015

My Birchbox has arrived! This month’s theme was Elevate Every Day. It was curated in collaboration with Emily from the blog Cupcakes and Cashmere. I’m going to be totally, brutally honest. I don’t enjoy reading her blog. It’s just not my thing, so I wasn’t as thrilled as I think that Birchbox was hoping.

The box is incredibly pretty though. It has a gorgeous orange/yellow triangle theme and it looks super cute. I reuse these to hold things on my vanity, so I’m happy to add this one to the collection.

On to the products!

JUARA Candlenut Body Creme

Traditional healers of Indonesia weren’t messing around when they pinpointed candlenut oil as a cure for severely dry skin. The centuries-old balm is rich in fatty acids, which makes it a great natural hydrator and all-around skin-smoother. It's velvety formula, inspired by venerable Balinese recipes, penetrates deep into dry, rough skin for instant, nongreasy softness that lasts and lasts.

Always need another body lotion! This one smells of sweetened coconut and is delightfully thick and creamy. Unfortunately this tube is so small, that it will only be useful as a handcream, and even then, I can’t imagine getting more than a couple uses out of it.

Full size: $38

Sample size: $1.72

Benefit Lollibalm

Much like receipts, our lipsticks, primers, and balms have a tendency to pile up in our purses if we’re not careful. Enter Benefit’s Lollibalm. Modeled after the brand’s Lollitint for lips and cheeks, the dual-purpose formula provides a wash of sheer color while softening and smoothing dry lips. Part balm, part sheer tint, it’s the only product that really deserves a year-round spot in our bags.

This was the only product that I was really excited to see. I had been thinking about picking one of these up, but just couldn’t justify another lipstick. I love the way that this looks and feels. It smells and tastes really gross though. It actually tastes like the liquid version, which is some icky. I don’t mind the taste on the liquid because I usually wear it on my cheeks, but this is really for the lips only, so I can’t justify that awful taste this time.

Full size: $18

Sample size: $8.40

PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray

Beach hair is no longer reserved for long weekends. Bottling the effects of that salty air, this spray from NYC stylist Jeff Chastain offers instant volume and a tousled texture. Sweet almond extract infuses strands with softness, fullness, and brilliance, while vitamin-rich algae extract nourishes and protects the scalp. Adding to this spray’s addictive nature is the scent of ripe peach, fresh-cut grass, and white woods. All products from the line are safe for color-treated hair and are free of sulfates, parabens, and gluten.

This smells fantastic, like you’re walking out of a salon. It also doesn't feel too heavy and it doesn't give my hair that gross clumpy feeling that a lot of sea salts give you. The spray is also super lightly dispersed, so you don't end up with wet patches. This gets my seal of approval.

Full size: $24

Sample size: $4.90

Harvey Prince Sincerely

This seductive scent from Harvey Prince has us falling in love—madly, deeply, and (yes) oh-so-sincerely. The complex blend of Indian tuberose, Turkish cyclamen, and Spanish mandarin makes for a sweetly spicy scent, one that we just can’t stop sniffing once we spritz it on.

I hate receiving perfume samples. Let’s get real, Birchbox. You can get these for free at any counter at any store in the country. This isn’t something to pay for. I like the scent of this, but I’m still not thrilled by it.

Full size: $55

Sample size: $1.56

Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Day Tint

Wearing foundation when our skin is ultradry is a tricky balancing act: We want to hide redness and irritation, but not accentuate any dry spots or chapping. Enter this multitasking cream from Dr. Jart+: It’s formulated with ceramides, the naturally-occuring lipid molecules that are lacking in severely dry skin, for intense hydration—and its sheer tint covers imperfections and leaves our complexion looking smooth and bright. What’s more, this derm-developed formula also protects against pollution and offers SPF 15 sun protection.

I have loved the Dr. Jart+ products that Birchbox has sent me in the past. His stuff is great if you have dry and sad skin and just need a perking up. This product appears to be the exception. There’s nothing wrong with it, per se, but it isn’t fantastic. The issue is that this is supposed to be a tinted moisturizer to use on light coverage days. This doesn’t provide me with any coverage at all. It leaves the skin feeling moisturized and fresh, but won’t ever replace a foundation or even a tinted moisturizer. It also leaves kind of a strange orange residue, so that’s a problem.

Full size: $48

Sample size: $4.80

Bottom to Top: Lollitint, Dr. Jart+, Juara

Total value is $21.38. This is the lowest value box that Birchbox has ever sent me, and it feels that way. Nothing is wrong with any of the products, but they aren’t special, and all of the samples are very small. I have one more month before I need to make a decision about whether to continue or not, so we’ll see how next month goes before deciding if it’s time to say goodbye. Birchbox just hasn’t been impressive lately.

Blended