Birchbox Slimbox

I love beauty boxes, there is something quite exciting about getting home from work to find a box waiting for you either on the doorstep. However,  more often than not,you get home to be greeted with the "sorry you were out" card knowing that. You dare to look on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or your blog reading list, everyone will have their box and will be merrily posting about it. So Birchbox have decided that to save us all from having to wait that extra 12/24 hours extra waiting should it your box be at the sorting office because they are introducing Slimbox!

So, the idea of Slimbox is that instead of the regular box, this one has been slimmed down to postbox size which means even with the outer packaging, it will fit through most standard sized letter boxes and it is so well made, it remains in tact having come through your letter box.  As you can see it has most definitely been slimmed if you look at the difference between the box I had in January and this one!  

So, inside your Slimbox, you still get your five/six decent sized sample products and within this box, which I have to say is just brilliant, the contents are: as follows:

T London Darjeeling Hand and Body Lotion - A light, silky, floral come citrus body lotion which smells absolutely delightful. Inspired by the delicate, reviving aroma of Darjeeling tea, this silky-soft lotion is packed with jojoba and aloe oils to moisturise and the subtle fragrance of Darjeeling to lift the spirits and renew the skin. This is a 50ml size which is brilliant.

Liz Earle Beauty Co Botanical Shine Shampoo - I am pretty new to the world of Liz Earle, so I am excited to see this product within the box.  Said to include West African shea butter, natural source vitamin E, shine-boosting apple and orange extracts plus naturally derived cleansers, this shampoo gently cleans without stripping to leave hair soft, shiny and smooth. Contains no sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate.  This again is a 50ml sized bottle and I cannot wait to try it.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum - I am a huge fan of Caudalie products, especially the oils, so this is a product I am looking forward to trying. Described as being an oil-free serum which uses powerful grape-derived viniferine to promote even tone and a glowing complexion; fading the look of pesky dark spots and preventing them from making an unwelcome appearance. It is perfect for all skin types and the luxe formula is free of irritating ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and petrochemicals. This is a 10ml sample.

the Balm Cindy Lou Manizer - this is a product I have heard and read a lot about and have never tried, so whilst it is quite a small sample, I am really looking forward to giving it a try.  Described as being a three-in-one highlighter, eyeshadow, and all-over shimmer it uses light-reflecting silica particles conceal blemishes and fine lines, while the honey colour leaves a sheer wash of shimmer.

Cynthia Rowley Beauty Eyeliner in Black is the final product in the box and it is a full sized product worth £11.  Not a brand I have heard of before but it is a kohl pencil which is described as being a luxe, creamy liners deliver bold color that lasts and lasts. 

The final item in the Slimbox is from The Chia Co and it is a sachet of Oats and Chia. Not something I have every tried and I see so many people adding Chia seeds to everything that I can now find out what all the fuss is about. They come in a range of three flavours which are Banana and Mango, Apple and Spice or Mixed Berry which is the option I have.  The description is "Wholegrain oats and sun ripened chia are blended with the finest quality fruit and virgin coconut oil to give our ‘just add hot water’ Oats+Chia a creamy, dairy-free texture". 

So there you have it, the very first Slimbox which I think is just absolutely brilliant. It is packed full of brilliant products, all of which I have never used before, so it is even more exciting and the packaging is just brilliant, no more trips to the sorting office! Regular subscribers of Birchbox can opt to have their February box as a Slimbox. Birchbox costs £12.95 per month and this included postage and packaging.

What do you think to Slimbox? Are you wanting to sign up/swap your box over to it?

November Birchbox Cosy at Home

Novembers Birchbox** has arrived and oh my it is a good one!  Cosy at Home November 2014 is about nights in, wrapping up and staying warm at home.  With that in mind, the amazing team behind Birchbox have put together an edit of products which have been specially chosen for a pamper night in!

 

This month there are five different products to try, one of which is full sized and one I cannot wait to try.

Dr Jart+ is a brand most people will associate with BB cream, I know I do and that is where my experience starts and ends.  In this months box there is this Water-Act Skin Mist which is designed to boost skin's internal moisture levels with an anti-oxident infused facial spritz.  You use it after cleansing by gently spritzing your face from a distance of 20-30cm with your eyes closed.  This has an RRP £18.

Weleda Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash follows and this is a 20ml sample and it smells absolutely amazing.  Said to be a nutrient loaded moisturising in-shower wash which is infused with sandalwood, davana and neroli.

Lipglam Natural Lanolin Lip Balm is next and this is a fats actin balm that delivers moisture for up to 8 hours - ooh watch out Elizabeth Arden!! It uses 100% natural ingredients and when on the lips it is so soft and smooth you don't know it is there and it makes a greast base before applying your lipstick!

Beauty Protector Protect & Treat Hair Mask comes in these two cute little  tubs and is designed tog rejuvenate and protect your hair.  It combines argan oil, honey, amber and crush pearls (wow) and is designed to be used after shampooing by simply applying it to the ends of your hair, leave on for 5-10 minutes if you have oily hair and up to 20 if you have dry hair.  I am definitely looking forward to trying this, it smells divine and is a lovely pastel pink colour.  

Lord and Berry Mini Bronzer is the last item in the box and in shade Sunny it looks like this, almost like an eye shadow for a palette. Said to be super fine and matte, this bronzer helps to create a healthly glow for a burst of radiance.

If all of that wasn't enough, there is one little treat in the box by way of chocolate - yippee and it is a Montezuma Mini bar, an indulgent treat of creamy milk chocolate made from the finest organic cocoa beans and it tastes absolutely amazing!

So that is October's Birchbox, isn't it fantastic?  Did you get your Birchbox this month?

Birchbox Happy Days September 2014

Birchbox is a popular favourite with bloggers and from the two boxes that I have had, I can see why. This month is themed 'Happy Days' and apparently September is the month that is filled with nostalgia. The start of the back-to-school season has us reminiscing about the happiest days of our lives and so on. Inside this box I am told I will find products that will help me look my best during my happiest days!

The first item in my box is a 4ml glass vial of the Agave Healing Oil Treatment. This oil claims to smooth and transform your hair, build resiliency and boost shine and colour. The Agave Oil is also free from parabens and phthalates and is also cruelty free. To use the oil the directions state that you should warm a 5p sized amount between the palms and smooth through damp hair evenly from mid-lengths to ends. Agave is a brand I have never heard of, but I am a big fan of hair oils and am looking forward to giving this a go. This sample is worth around £1

The next item is a 5ml sample of the ModelCo Power Lash Black Mascara. As an Australian brand, I don't really know that much about ModelCo so I am looking forward to giving this a try. This mascara claims to give full gorgeous luxurious lashes, with great length. The wand is said to be a unique shape to capture those tiny lashes for maximum impact and minimal effort. This sample is worth £13.

Next up a 3ml sample of the Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream from their Skincare range. The cream itself is a very light caramel shade, which includes cocoa extra to help boost microcirculation and fade dark under the eye circles. The inclusion of a daily peptide complex works to preserve the elasticity of the delicate under the eye area, whilst skin is hydrated and protected from free radicals! Whoa! This sample is worth £1.80.

The next item I received is a 20ml jar of the Premae Mild Dermabrasion Face and Body Scrub. A scrub which contains olive granules to smooth the skin is said to be gentle enough to be used on both the face and body whilst buffing away dead skin cells, blemishes and trapped dirt. It cream itself has a really nice consistency, imagine your favourite cream with added bits into it, once on the skin it feels really soft until your begin the process of massaging the skin, it is then that the exfoliating particles come into being and whilst you most definitely know they are there, they are still gentle on the skin. This sample is worth around £5.

The last beauty item in this month's box is a very small sample of the Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip Plumper in shade Rio. I am a big fan of Jane Iredale and I have featured the products on my blog before. This lip plumper contains Spearmint and peppermint oils, in combination with ginger root extract, gently stimulate circulation making lips fuller, faster. Shea butter, sunflower oil and aloe vera soften and hydrate and the essential oils of lemon and tangerine help to exfoliate dead skin cells. I love the size of this lipstick, it is something that would be perfect if you were unsure whether or not the colur you wanted was right, but rather than pay out for a full sized version, you have a sample sized to play with. That said, this shade is a little too much on the brown side for me. This sample is worth around £3.

This month we received  two Lifestyle Extras; the first item is a Birchbox Happy Days Photo Clip and the second item is a packet of Urban Fruit Perfect Mango Pieces. I really like the photo clip, it is something a little bit different, it fits with the theme of the box and I quite like the green coloured cube.  The fruit snack is also something as an addition, again it is a little bit different and is something I wanted to try, and by the time you read this, I have! 

If you were interested in purchasing any of this month's samples in the full size, you can do so through the Birchbox shop and if you have never subscribed to Birchbox and would love to do so, I have a £5 off offer for you, just use the code BBX5QUEEN - Enjoy!

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