This month, Birchbox have collaborated with celebrity style icon (& makeup obsessive!) Millie Mackintosh to curate the ‘Never Ending Summer’ box. I think this is the first time I can remember Birchbox joining forces with a famous face but she seems like a decent option as has dipped in and out of the beauty , makeup & fashion world with collaborations with St Tropez, Manuka Doctor, her own blog AND her own fashion line. Not that I am a name-dropper but I have worked with Millie and she is truly into her beauty and knows her stuff from her dabbles of working as a makeup artist in the past.
I opened up my Birchbox on my snapchat (Username LauraLouMakeup FYI) and if you watched it you may know I was a little torn on the contents of this one. However, on further inspection & use, I’ve been swayed.
The thing that jumped out first to me was the Frizz Ease Anti-Frizz Primer...merely because it’s a large (full-size) 100ml bottle. Now I was a little bit surpised to see these as it just seems a little *high street* for the typical Birchbox… oooo how snobby of me, but you probably know what I mean as Birchbox usually include niche/ more high end brands. Saying that, my snooty-self tried this out a couple of times….and yeah it’s good and I take back my initial concerns. It is a white cream formula that you apply into wet hair to prevent frizz and help your styles last longer and stay smoother. It actually works, and I am using it pretty much daily. Psssst don’t use too much.
There is also a travel-size 50ml Caudalie Micellar water. Which I already use, and really like. This will no doubt come in handy and is the perfect size for a week away to lightly cleanse your skin and remove eye makeup. This micellar leaves the skin feeling really fresh too as it contains extracts of orange & lemon blossom, watermelon & mint. My only gripe is that there is A LOT of Caudalie in birchoxes lately, and I already seem to have most of the products because I love the brand. Bitter-Sweet.
I have heard SO much about Indeed Labs Hydraluron (thanks Caroline) and yet have never indulged thus far. There is a Hydraluron Moisture Boosting mask which is a pre-soaked sheet mask that promises to give a burst of hydration using hyaluronic acid (natch) and I am really looking forward to trying this. I do love sheet masks as they are just quick and easy to use and after my horrid reaction to a face mask last week my skin is feeling in need of some TLC & hydration. Will report back.
Make-up wise there is just one item in this month’s box and that is a full-sized Love of Colour / LOC ultra-gloss lip pencil in Bohemian Rose. This is a colour designed and created by Millie and is a really pretty pop of pink, slightly on the blue side. The finish is balmy and glossy and is perfect for summer days and nights. Very Millie and very pretty. I didn’t know this but LOC is actually a Birchbox-own brand, that is sold off their website worldwide.
Last and least (ahem) is the miniature Nails Inc Nail varnish. I like Nails Inc as a brand, I really do, but this colour is just….yuk. *insert poo emoji* It’s called Oxford Street and it’s a murky brown. Not a nice chanel taupey colour, but a deeper brown…just not me at all. I am sure some people will love this shade, and I am not sure if there is a mixture of shades being sent out in the boxes, but I wish I had got a different/any other shade. Saying that, all the other products I like so 4/5 isn’t too shabby.
This month’s box has a value of £32 which is a great saving considering the boxes cost £10 plus £2.95 P&P. You can subscribe, shop & learn more about Birchbox here.
What are you thinking of this box? Do you subscribe? What is your favourite Beauty Box?