This month has been manic, I am working on a large work project and it has consumed not only my time, but also my sanity and mental capacity. I want to blog so much more and this particular post should have landed days ago. I am looking forward to the Christmas break and for this project to be over so I can have the head space to think.
If you’ve seen my post T Re: Dealing with Stress then you’ll know some of the methods I’m using to cope, but fundamentally I’m just trying not to take any of my life too seriously at the moment. If I did you’d most likely find me keeled over in a heap on the floor of my dressing room and I’m not having that!
As I writing this I am yet to purchase one Christmas present, so that’s adding to the pressure. I need to some how find an accountant to file our taxes, I had planned to do this myself but didn’t bank on it being complicated and let’s just say my record keeping could have been better. My blog is being redesigned, but more on that in the launch post to come. Well if you can’t hear the violins, I can, ha! If I’m honest life is really great, none of the above is insurmountable and while it’s definitely not an exhaustive list, I know we’ll be just fine. Anyway on to the fun stuff.
So, I’m not really sure how I came across Birchbox, I think I saw posts with pictures of the packaging on Twitter and then I googled it and joined up straight away.
Birchbox is basically an online store that sells beauty products and cosmetics. The difference is they offer subscriptions so you can get a box of treats each month. This way you get to try loads of random products you probably would have never come across and if you like it, I guess the idea is you go back to the site and purchase the full-size version. I paid £10 for the December Birchbox, it contains 5 products and here’s what I thought.
First of all, I love the packaging! It’s perfectly festive for the time of year. Love the Matthew Williamson collaboration as well, just to luxe it up!
LOC Vibrant Matte Lipstick – Color Me Confident (Cranberry) – Definitely my favourite thing in the box, it’s coming in handy this festive season. As a deeper red it’s perfect for an out to dinner moment, not too glam, but just enough colour to brighten up my face.
Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle – this is my next favourite this month. I have Afro hair and I always use water to mist, but this stuff smells amazing. It is sulfate and paraben free, which is a must and it also doubles up as a heat protector. This is a good all around conditioning spray for those with dry hair like me. I’m currently deliberating if I should buy the full size bottle.
Dr. PawPaw Original Clear Balm – Yellow – this I think I would buy again. In these cold weather days nothing is worse than chapped lips! It’s made with pawpaw which is from a papaya plant or something and is meant to have healing properties. What’s great is, it can be used as a lip balm, cuticle oil and even to soothe sunburn.
Baija Gommage Festin Royal Miel Caramélisé – I haven’t tried this one yet, but I plan to make it a part of my next pamper day. Who doesn’t need exfoliation, right! The fact this is 97% natural is great also. Baija Collections is a brand from Paris, it’s also stocked by House of Fraser which is a plus in my eyes.
Spectrum Collection Marbleous Black B04 Brush – the final product was this eyeshadow brush. It’s perfectly adequate but if I’m honest I know nothing about makeup brushes. I tend to jab my finger in everything and then rub it on until it looks good, ha! The bristles are super soft if that helps and I was able to create this subtle bronze Look with help from this L’Oréal eyeshadow palette – here along with these two LOC eyeshadow duo sticks I got free with my Birchbox
What do you guys think of Birchbox, as always comment below please.
Roll on January!
T
