Part of me still enjoys getting a little box of goodies every month, but all too often the majority of items go unused. I stash them away to take with me on holiday, but there’s only so much I need at one time!
And I've very rarely found items that have made me want to buy a full size and include them in my regular routine. But would this box change my mind?
November’s Birchbox is supposedly a collaboration with accessories brand Skinnydip. I say ‘supposedly’, because although it included a voucher to use (£10 off when you spend £24 or more), there were no actual Skinnydip products in the box, which seems a bit misleading.
So the collaboration is not much more than the box design in reality! A bit disappointing really.
So, what was in the box if it wasn't treats from Skinnydip?
Absolution La Creme De Twin
£35 at full size
First up, this tinted moisturiser from this French organic skincare line. I love a lightweight option for those days when I don't want to wear foundation, and formulas that deliver multiple benefits in one swipe are a must as a new mother with very limited time, so I was pleased to see this.
And there's a lot of skin goodies crammed into this. Tamanu oil to regenerate and calm skin, activate cell renewal and combat blemishes and scars. Green tea extract to fight free radicals and detoxify. Aloe vera, jojoba and rosehip oils to condition and protect skin. And a star ingredient called ‘thermus thermophilus’, which is found 2 km below the ocean bed, to protect against environmental aging. Pretty fancy, huh?
The cream comes in a single shade, but supposedly adapts to suit your skintone- although I doubt it would adapt enough for really pale or really dark skin. The natural ingredients also supposedly give a sun protection, but there's no formal SPF rating, which I would want from my day cream.
I like the elegant packaging with its black silhouette design and I'm intrigued to give this a go and see if it delivers or does anything to really justify the high price tag. The cream is 99% naturally derived and vegan.
Percy and Reed Smoothed, Sealed and Sensational Volumising No Oil Oil
£14 at full size
This is a product I'm actually using right at the moment, so I know my thoughts on it already. The idea is that it's a one pump wonder product - smoothing out locks, adding shine and locking in volume. Targeted at fine hair that gets weighed down easily, this product is super - lightweight.
It's not my favourite hair oil ever (that accolade goes to Mythic Oil, which I’m obsessed with) but it does do a good job at softening my locks, although dry ends aren't such a problem since I cut it short.
On the volume front though? I'm not so sure. It didn't have a noticeable volumising effect for me. This is an okay product but I doubt I'll ever spring for the full size when there are better options out there.
It might be worth a try if you have very fine hair that looks greasy with a regular oil.
Delarom Creme Acquaconfort
£34 at full size
Around this time of year, when the temperature drops, the heating goes on, and my skin starts to dry out, I like to ramp up my skincare by using a richer day cream, and this looks just the ticket.
Using almond, apricot oil and Vitamin E it promises to leave skin plumped and velvety. Its concentration of mineral salts and hyaluronic acid locks in moisture and strengthens the epidermal layer, so it's perfect for an extra boost in the colder months.
I especially like the fact that this isn't a heavy, sticky cream- despite its heavyweight ingredients, it actually feels very light on the skin. Impressive stuff!
Lord & Berry Silhouette Neutral Lip liner
£9 at full size
At first I thought this wouldn't be any use to me, but having thought about it, I'm actually excited to try this. Although I like lip liner for cheating a perfect pout, I generally go for a coloured liner in a nude shade, and I haven't thought about using a clear liner.
But of course, using a clear liner means it works with any shade of lipstick - and as any fellow beauty junkie will know, there are some shades out there it's impossible to match a liner to!
Plus, this sits under the colour to prime lips and help the staying power of any shade. You can use clear liner around the edges of your lip line to stop colour bleeding and feathering- especially handy with the season’s plum and burgundy shades.
I can't wait to try this out and now I'm thinking it's quite a genius idea!
Cowshed Cow Pat Hand Cream
£8
Hand cream is another daily essential that you can never have to many of - I keep a tube in my handbag, desk drawer, bedside cabinet and in my car glove box, because I hate the feeling of dry hands.
This cream smells great, with grapefruit to uplift and coriander to soothe, and it's not greasy at all, which I can't abide. But I don't like the ‘cheeky’ name (it's trying way too hard!).
Cowshed products I have tried before and they've never especially stood out for me. They're good, but they never blow me away. Perhaps this hand cream will change my mind! It's certainly going to come in very useful over the winter.
L.Erickson Grab & Go Ponytail Holder
£11.50 for a set of 15
And lastly, this little hair tie was nestled in the bottom of this month’s box as a little extra.
It's metal free, so it won't tear the hair, and it has those rubbery anti slip grooves that hold the hair tie in place and stop your pony going all saggy and baggy! It also makes them especially good for the gym.I keep a hair tie on me at all times, so this is quite handy.
Verdict
This month's box contained some nice treats- a couple of things I've tried before and a couple of brands new to me.
It's not a bad box but it didn't excite me much either, perhaps with the exception of the clear lip liner. I'm a little sad at the lack of Skinnydip products in the box though!
If there had been something in there to make it a true collaboration, it would have been a much better box. As it is, although this box was nice, it's just not exciting enough to keep me coming back for more.
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