Birchbox August 2013

I received my August Birchbox!

First Look!

This month's theme is 'Finishing School'

2 fl. oz. EVOLVh 'Ultra Shine' Moisture Conditioner This organic conditioner is specifically made for color treated hair. 

2 fl. oz. DermaE 'Hydrating Mist with Hyaluronic Acid'  This is supposed to be used as a facial mist or a makeup setting spray.  I'm mostly interested to see how this compares to my Urban Decay 'Up all Night' setting spray.  DermaE also included a special offer with the sample.  Use code BIRCH2013 to save $5.00 off any full sized product. Offer expires September 30, 2013.

 One packet of Whish 'Deodorant Swipe'. This also claims to be a hair inhibitor. This sample is a perfect thing to place in a gym bag or my purse, for when I'm feeling a little stinky. This was my Beauty  extra for the month. I wish they had given me something different as a beauty extra since I received another Whish product in this month's box and I have received a shave cream in a previous Birchbox. At least it's not the same product or the same type of product...

.75 fl. oz. Whish 'Exfoliating Body Wash in 'Coconut Milk' I really like the scent of this body wash. I'm really into coconut smelling things right now. 

0.03 fl. oz. Stila 'Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick' in Beso I saw this on the Birchbox Facebook page as an option that could be in this month's box. I was really hoping that I got this sample, so I was happy to see that I received it. I wasn't too excited to see another red color. It seems like all the sample boxes always send red lip products. I decided to try it out anyways and was pleasantly surprised with the product. It is a blue based red, which I don't currently have. I put this on at night and when I woke up in the morning the lipstick was still on my lips as if I just applied it.  The only evidence that I had slept in it was the streaks of red running down my lips as if I was a sparkly vampire that just went out to eat. I touched up my lips with a lip brush and went to work with the red. It stayed all day at work without any touchups. As for the bad things about this product: I didn't like the applicator. It picked up a lot of product and was messy to apply. With a red lipstick there isn't much room for mistakes so the applicator didn't make for an easy application. Since this is a sample I can't really hold the applicator against this product, not knowing what the full sized product's applicator is like. The second thing I did not like I can hold against the product.  As the lipstick started to fade at the end of the day it faded from the inside out. Which left me with what looked like a bright red lipliner on bare lips. The product was hard to wipe off, so I ended up looking ridiculous at the end of the day because I didn't have the lipstick with me to reapply. Needless to say I am thinking of purchasing a full sized product of this lipstick in different colors. It wasn't drying and really had some lasting power. It did have some transfer throughout the day, but it didn't show on my lips. 

Swatch of Beso. This swatch really doesn't do the color justice. The red is so much more vibrant and beautiful on my lips.

This month Birchbox partnered up with Ann Taylor to make special offers for Birchbox subscribers. They included this brochure with different Birchbox store beauty products and Ann Taylor accessories. 

They also included this special offer on the back.  I used to work at Ann Taylor  and know the quality of the products is excellent.  The prices for the products are a bit high for my non profit paychecks, but I'll keep this coupon in my purse in case I find some more Perfect Pumps that I have to get.  These heels are so comfortable and the only pair of heels that I have found that I can wear all day comfortably.  I have two pairs of these heels and could always use more, because they really are PERFECT!   

 If you would like to sign up for Birchbox please use my Referral Link