“There’s no better time to shake up your beauty routine than a new year, which is why we’ve filled this month’s box with shiny new products.”
Say what? New products…shower gel, concealer, hand cream, day cream and a conditioner pack. Really? More like everyday totally ordinary items! Looking at the box variants that other people have received, there have been LOADS of variations. Was this just an exercise to throw whatever leftover samples they had at us?
LORD & BERRY: Conceal-It Crayon in Beige, 1.6g
Value: £12 (full size)
“This creamy pencil not only disguises imperfections but it’s also great at highlighting areas that you want to show off.”
BT INITIAL OPINION: Hmm. We tend towards cream concealers and are skeptical that this can provide coverage. At first swatch, it seems chalky and don’t see it being useful as a highlighter, but we look forward to trying this as we do have a Lord & Berry eyeliner crayon that is great.
ELEMIS: Hydra-boost Day Cream, 15ml
Value: £14.63
“This hyaluronic acid-packed formula works to strengthen your natural moisture barrier throughout the day, improving your skin texture over time.”
BT INITIAL OPINION – We like Elemis for high quality, good performing formulas. It is however too expensive, this cream being no exception. Hope it will at least deliver on its promises.
MERCI HANDY: Hand Cream in New Wave, 30ml
Value: £4.90 (full size)
“Make sure you show your hands some love with this sweet-smelling lotion. It’s packed with tiny pearls and nourishing extracts to papmper and soothe.”
BT INITIAL OPINION – We thought this was toothpaste when we opened the box! But no, it was a hand cream from the people who make the hand sanitisers and fruity tooth gels that have flooded lots of boxes lately. We don’t really get this brand. It’s very cheerful, but it’s just hand sanitiser and hand cream in fruity flavours after all…
PRISMOLOGIE: Yellow Day Shower Gel, 10ml
Value: £1.50
“Add a splash of sunshine with this foaming formula packed with uplifting bergamot and zesty citrus. Tiny micro-crystals smooth skin and restore radiance.”
BT INITIAL OPINION – Blimey! This is a premium product (£30 for full size), but how good can a shower gel really be? The sample is tiny – we’ll be sure to appreciate this splash of sunshine for the one shower it will last for 😀
JOHN FRIEDA: Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Deep Conditioner, 25ml
Value: £1.16
“Formulated with an amino repair complex, this treatment delivers an intense shot of moisture to leave hair silky, smooth and shiny.”
BT INITIAL OPINION – A sachet? As an actual box item? Really? And this is a product you can see in supermarkets and chemists everywhere. Not saying it’s not good, but what’s it doing in this box?!
OVERALL VERDICT:
This theme was laughable as were all most of the contents. Who would this box appeal to? The items are all handy but very much not special except the Elemis. We’re thinking about unsubbing at this stage.
Total value: £34.19
Box price: £10.00 plus £2.95 shipping (rolling month by month subscription) – although we got this on a discount offer
Note: We paid for this Birchbox with our own hard-earnt pennies
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