Hey Birchbox fans!!

This month I chose the pre-curated specialty Birchbox.

 On Trend: Korean Beauty

I LOVED the previously curated K-Beauty Box Birchbox offered and while this one was a monthly box vs. a special edition, full of mostly full sized goodies as the last was;  it still looked pretty good and most importantly, included the two popular K-beauty fads I’d yet to try: Bubble Peeling & Essence.

If you are new to Birchbox, Here is the lowdown:

For 10.00 Per Month you will receive a box of 5 beauty products/samples and an occasional bonus product delivered to your door each month. Join Birchbox

For those interested there is also a Mens Birchbox. Details here

birchbox has many additional perks as well:

-prior to the month you will receive an email that will often allow you to choose one of your samples from a selection or to choose a specially curated birchbox with each product detailed. You also may stick with the option of keeping your surprise standard monthly box with a selection of the spotlighted monthly items!

-Birchbox Plus: In addition to your monthly boxes birchbox has added Birchbox Plus, this allows you to add a lifestyle item to your box for a discounted price: [anything from additional (full sized) beauty products to items for your home, entertaining and accessories!] (You will receive an email with these options prior to your months box as well)

-The very best part of Birchbox for me is the Birchbox store and the rewards system that they have. Each month you may review each product for 10 BB points ea. 100 points equals 10.00 to use in the Birchbox shop; essentially every two birchboxes received can get you 10.00 to use in the birchbox shop.  (you also earn 1 bb point for every dollar spent in the shop) There are many other promos that allow you additional bb points and other loyalty discounts throughout each year.  They offer many excellent brands in their shop.

– Birchbox also has the Ace program which you are auto enrolled in after receiving 500 bb points in a calendar year:  learn more about the Ace program.

The Box:

The Goods:

Goodal Phytowash Yerba Mate Cleansing Foam: Full size is $20.00

Goodal Phytowash Yerba Mate Bubble Peeling: Full size is $33.00

I was able to squeeze a few uses out of each of these products but really wish these two had been the larger sized samples.  Love them.  They seem to be a really good match for my skin type and issues: patchy dry areas, (in the winter) oily T zone, Hormonal breakouts…good stuff. haha!  It is a bit early to tell, of course, but I like them enough to want to purchase the full sized versions.  The cleanser is a really thick, rich, foaming cleanser that left my skin feeling soft and clean.  The bubble peel is simply fun and unique and definitely exfoliates, but gently.  I feel good about the condition they leave my skin.  Birchbox, unfortunately, does not seem to carry the cleansing foam and is out of stock in the bubble peeling (totally not surprised) so the links above are from Club Clio.

Goodal Waterest First Essence: Full size product is $30.00

When reading other’s reviews of this product I find it odd how most’s perception of this; while still well received were so different than mine.  I would describe the feel and texture of this product like a thin aloe vera gel, similar to when it comes straight from the plant.  It’s a tad bit sticky as well.  I’m not sure if I would like it for day time, under makeup but I loved it at night under my moisturizer.  I feel like it really amped up the hydration factor of my moisturizer.  What I do know is after one evening with the above cleanser, bubble peel and this essence, under my moisturizer (I used Sulwhasoo Concentrated Ginseng Cream) my patchy dry spots I’ve been struggling with for 2 weeks were 90% improved overnight. Maybe it’s a coincidence but I think I will stick with this for a while.  Of course, this product is out of stock at Birchbox as well now so link is for Club Clio.

RE:P. Bio Fresh Mask With Real Calming Herb: This sample is deluxe sized.  Full size is $41.00

This mask mentions hydration on the tube but had I paid attention to the obvious signs that it was a clay mask I’d have refrained from using it right now.  It quickly diminished my newly acquired hydration a couple of notches.  Oops.  That’s not to say it’s a bad mask by any means just not the right mask for a girl struggling with flaky dry patches.  True to it’s name it did calm my skin with noticeably less reddened skin and the normal areas of my face looked really smooth.  I will definitely go back to this when my skin is back to it’s normal state.

Tony Moly Tony Tint Delight #2 Red: This is a mini version.  The full size product is $6.00

This is a lip tint/stain that is buildable in intensity and has a nice cherry scent.  It’s nice b/c you can get a light sheer red color for the less daring or amp it up if you like…and boy does it stay.  Unfortunately, this stuff went on super splotchy for me and made my lips look quite awful.  I would not recommend this if you have dry/chapped lips.

Swatch [If your lips are as smooth as my arm then you’re golden 😉 ]

IPKN Flash Cream Radiant Primer: Deluxe Sized Sample.  Full size product is: 28.00

I own a huge stash of primers in multiple different formulas.  The condition and needs of my skin change throughout each month…and repeat; so I do not have just one primer that works best for me.  This is both illuminating and moisturizing so it is definitely the type I will use the least but for right now it worked pretty well, I just go very light on my forehead or skip it altogether.  It does absorb quite a bit from the initial application and looks and feels much less wet and shiny.  I would not recommend this product for oilier skin though.

Manefit Beauty Planner Mask: One full sheet Mask $10.00

These sheet types will never be my favorite style of mask but I have grown more accustomed to them because the good ones; well, they work.  This one is no exception.  It was really calming on my aggravated skin and gave a good dose of moisture.

This was a really great Birchbox for me.  Really good products and several new to me products that I will likely purchase.  Glad I picked this version!

What did everyone else think?

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-Kelli xoxo