The February 2016 Birchbox

I mentioned the fact that I subscribe to Birchbox in a post way back when I started my subscription, and I haven't mentioned them since because on the whole, the quality of the boxes had gotten a bit poor. I was actually considering cancelling my subscription after the disappointment that was my January 2016 box but this month they've really turned it around and it's a box worth trying to get your hands on.

So the theme of the Feb 16 box was "Shine Bright Like A Diamond" and the box itself is super cute with the white and pastel colours and the metallic writing. Like all of the Birchbox offerings, it give you 5 sample products and one "Beauty Bonus" in your little Birchbox drawstring bag.

When I was considering cancelling after the January box, I got an email advertising that the Feb box would include a full size of one of the new LOC Love of Colour One And Done Shadow Sticks and that's what made me hold out for the Feb box. Tati from "Glam Life Guru" on YouTube had been involved with Birchbox LOC Launch in the states and I just had a feeling they'd be great. They let you pick from the two shades available so I picked "Champagne Problems" and it's a beautiful shimmery silvery taupe that's easy to apply and beautiful on the lids.

This month also brought a sample of the Frat Boy Blush from The Balm which seems to have a bit of a cult following these days. It's a beautiful peachy pink blush that's pigmented and has the amazing staying power that I've come to expect from The Balms products. My one gripe with this product is the sample size it such a tiny square that it can be a bit fiddly getting an even layer on your blush brush.

I'm a cleanser addict so the addition of the Korres Milk Proteins 3-in-1 Cleansing Emulsion was nice for me. The sample size is perfect for short trips of traveling and the texture of the cleanser is lovely and creamy on the skin and it's not stripping at all. It's not a cleanser I'd se for makeup removal but for a morning cleanse it seems nice. It's lightly scented and while I' not a fan of the scent, it's not overwhelmingly awful.

The box also includes a full sized Spectrum Collections Tapered Powder Brush. I personally hadn't heard of the brand before but my sister uses some of these brushes and loves them. The coloured handles and bristles are fun but it's a good quality, sturdy brush and the bristles are nice and soft. The shape is also perfect for contouring products, it's like a slightly denser version of the Charlotte Tilbury Powder and Sculpt Brush.

This months beauty bonus was a single use of the Derm Eyes Makeup Remover Wipes. These claim to be for sensitive eyes and delicate eyelids and they're safe for contact lens users. I must admit, with them being a single use I haven't tried them yet as they seem ideal for an overnight trip so I'm saving them but they do seem interesting and if they work I will definitely have to report back.

And finally, the one thing I wasn't so excited about, but these days is it really a birchbox if it doesn't contain some sort of body cream? I'm sure the Ayres Body Butter in "Patagonia" is lovely, the scent seems pleasant, but seriously Birchbox, enough body creams.

But all in all, a solid box. If by some stroke of luck Birchbox are reading this: More boxes like this one in future please!

My Recent Rose Obsession

Have you ever noticed yourself going through a Beauty Phase? I've had my colourful eyeshadow phase and my bold-boardering-on-black lipstick phase and now? I'm apparently having my rose-in-everything phase. I know that a rose scent isn't for everyone, but it is definitely for me and so I thought I'd spend a little while today talking about my top 5 rose scented products.

Something I've been enjoying skincare wise for a long time is facial mists, and I remember mentioning the Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist when I first received the sample size of it at Beauty Chat Live. While I don't use facial mists every night and recently when I want a mist I've been reaching for La Roche Posay Serozinc a lot for it's anti-blemish properties, I do really enjoy rosewater sprays and find them super refreshing, particularly now that the weather's warming up. Since then I've tried a few more rosewater type products and this one still reins supreme. In fact, I can see myself needing the full size bottle soon.

It makes me slightly sad to say that Space NK's Smoky Rose Candle has become a favourite of mine recently, mainly because I don't have an awful lot left and it seems to have been limited edition as I can't find it on the website anywhere. It's just exactly how the name suggests, a rose scent with a hint of smokiness to it that makes it a lovely room fragrance. It smells really strong in the candle but when it burns it just has a pleasantly "there" scent that isn't overpowering at all.

On the same lines of that slightly more mature rose scent, a body product I've been enjoying is the Renewing Rose Body Cream by Aromatherapy Associates. It's a lovely light body cream that ha a soft and subtle rose scent to it that isn't too heavy or too sweet. Out of all the products I'm mentioning in this post this is what I would call the truest rose scent. It's not my every-day body cream just because it's quite indulgently priced, but it's a treat and do I love it? Yes I do.

My budget rose scented pick is the Una Brennan Rose Hydrate Intense Moisture Mask. It goes onto the skin like a standard face cream but takes a little while to sink it. I'd call it a high-street alternative to the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, similar to that product, the Una Brennan can be left on overnight or if you just want a quick hit of hydration you can leave it on for 5-20 minutes and then remove with a damp wash cloth.

And finally the creme de la creme of rose products: the MV Organics Rose Plus Booster. It's a luxurious sweet rose scented facial oil and it's lovely for morning or night. It sinks into the skin nicely and leaves the skin feeling hydrated and moisturised but not greasy. Works well under makeup or overnight and the scent just ramps up the luxury factor even more. The only downside? The price. But I love it so much that I can deal with the hefty price tag.