You guys know if you've been following my blog for any length of time that I'm a huge fan of Birchbox's Limited Edition collections. They're usually an incredible value and the perfect way to try a range of new beauty products without totally breaking the bank. This particular box has 6 full sized luxury products, one generous deluxe sample, and a cute little clutch bag for only $48! I was even more excited by this particular box because it contained a lot of products I'd been curious about for a long time, and this way I get a chance to try them all at a fraction of the price it would normally cost me.
Even if Birchbox is giving you loads of bang for your buck, they definitely don't skimp on presentation. The box itself is absolutely gorgeous, with a stunning geometrically pattern lid complete with gold foil detailing. I honestly wouldn't even want to wrap this if I was giving it as a gift. All it needs is a ribbon and a card and bam, you've got a present to impress. On that note, if you're super ahead of the game with your holiday shopping, this would be a perfect gift for any lady in your life who deserves a little extra pampering (and really, who doesn't?).
Speaking of pampering, let's get into the good stuff. Birchbox did a great job of choosing products that feel special and luxurious but are also totally appropriate to use on the daily. Here's a quick breakdown of everything you get:
- Michael Todd Concentrated C Antioxidant Moisturizing Serum
- Ciaté Paint Pot in Paparazzi
- Caudalie Divine Oil (deluxe sample)
- Smith & Cult the Shining Lip Lacquer (varying shades)
- Cargo Texaslash Mascara
- Jouer Powder Eyeshadow (deluxe sample)
- NER:D Skin Repair Master Mask
- Stephanie Johnson Tinseltown Gunmetal Medium Flat Pouch
With organic extracts, this formula soothes and moisturizes, dry, stressed skin.
Full Size, 1 oz ($37)
I LOVE Michael Todd products, so I was totally jazzed to see a full sized serum in this box. This serum is meant to help to prevent against sun damage, reverse the signs of aging, and hydrate the skin, leaving it youthful and glowing. The ingredients list is awesome (as one would expect) with Aloe, Rosehip Seed Oil, Vitamins C and E, and a whole range of plant and fruit oils and extracts with added antioxidant benefits. Since I'm already in middle of using the Maple Holistics Vitamin C Serum I'm going to hold off on opening this up just yet, but I have a feeling it's going to be amazing!
A timeless scarlet shade that you'll want to wear all season long.
Full Size, 0.46 oz ($15)
As a total nailpolish-a-holic its kind of a miracle that this is the first time I'm adding Ciaté to my collection. I'd heard such great things about their Paint Pots, and the packaging is oh-so-adorable. For only having used this once for far, I definitely am digging it. The shade Paparazzi is perfect for fall, with its deep, moody, cranberry hue. It applied on easily with little streaking and dried down relatively fast. The finish was also quite glossy, although I've amped up the shine factor in the swatches above by sealing everything in with topcoat. It wasn't the most durable of formulas, and started chipping around day 3 and needing serious replacement around day 4 or 5. But if you're looking for something to wear for the weekend or don't mind changing your polish up after a few days, this is definitely a nice option.
Lush, multitasking oil blend that can be used on face, body - and even hair.
Full Size, 100 ml ($49)
Full Size, 100 ml ($49)
Sample Size, 15 ml ($7.35)
This is one of those cult favorite beauty products I've been dying to try FOREVER. I mean, what's more luxurious than a gorgeously perfumed body oil? Now, having been on a bit of a green beauty kick lately I'm not entirely thrilled that this oil throws in artificial fragrance and also some other funky chemicals I'm sure to preserve and emulsify the formula. However I will admit that it does smell absolutely lovely. Since the skin on my face is way more prone to irritation than the rest of my body I will probably avoid using it in that area, however I think this will be a really sumptuous oil to apply to my legs and arms post shower or bath.
Smith & Cult The Shining Lip Lacquer (Varying Shades)
A naturally moisturizing, and hyper-shiny lip gloss from the cult cosmetics company.
Full Size, 0.16 fl oz ($22)
Full Size, 0.16 fl oz ($22)
I'm definitely a sucker for Smith & Cult's gorgeous packaging, and seeing as I'm totally in love with their nail polish formula, I was really excited to try one of their lip glosses. I received the shade Life in Photographs, which is a super pale bubblegum pink that essentially swatches out as a clear gloss. The formula is really nice. It's quite thick in texture, but without any stickiness, and has tons of gorgeous shine. It also smells really yummy too. It actually reminds me a lot of the Chantecaille Luminous Gloss which I love so much but has the most outrageous price tag. $22 is definitely way more wallet friendly than $34, however it's still pretty pricey for a lip gloss. Basically, I don't think you need to spend a ton of cash to get a little bit of glossy shine, however if you're looking to splurge this is a great option.
Bigger is better with this voluminous formula that fattens and lifts lashes.
Full Size, 0.43 oz ($20)
Full Size, 0.43 oz ($20)
It might be a little while before I decide to give this mascara a proper go, seeing as I've already got two tubes open, however it sounds like it'll be right up my alley. Providing tons of lift and volume, this mascara does for your lashes what Texans are known to do to their hair. My only concern is the giant brush, which, after having some technical difficulties with the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara, makes me wonder if this will be equally tricky to apply.
Jouer Powder Eyeshadow (Varying Shades)
Wet-to-dry formula that can be used as both a shimmering shadow and a subtle liner.
Full Size, 0.077 oz ($22)
I've tried very little from Jouer, but have been lusting after many of their products for ages. This powder eyeshadow basically just fueled the fire even more. It's incredibly silky and blends like a dream on the eyes. I got the shade Caramel, which has a slight luminosity to it, but isn't exactly shimmery or metallic. It's a beautiful, rich shade to wear all over the lid and would pair really well with purple or chocolate tones. I typically don't use single shadows as much as I use palettes, but I definitely see myself reaching for this often!
Antioxidant-rich mask engineered to stimulate skin's natural healing process.
Pack of 3 ($56)
Single Mask ($18.67)
I'm going to hold off on using this mask for a special occassion, as it'll probably be the most expensive single-use item I've ever tried. Sheet masks have been huge in the beauty community as-per-late, and I'm really looking forward to trying one. This particular mask looks like it's chock full of ingredients to soothe and hydrate the skin, so it'd be perfect for a day of pampering either right before or right after a big event. Maybe I'll use it to recoup from Halloween related festivities. I guess we shall see!
This flat pouch in distressed silver is perfectly sized for carrying your essentials.
Do I need another makeup bag? Probably not. However, this little metallic clutch is super cute. It's a tad small to carry all of your things in, but would be nice to throw in a larger purse to keep all of your makeup and such together. It doesn't look like this specific bag is for sale on the Birchbox website, so I don't know exactly how much it retails for, however a similar bag (the large size) retails for $29. I honestly think the price points on all the Stephanie Johnson merchandise are way higher than they deserve to be, and I would never shell out $20+ for a bag like this. However, since its grouped into such an awesome box of other goodies, I'll gladly take it!
All in all I'm definitely happy with my decision to purchase this box! I think all of the products inside are definitely things that I will use and love, and there really isn't anything that I feel disappointed in. Birchbox says that the total value of this box would retail for $197, although I personally can't figure out how that math works out. Still, even for a $150 value, the $48 price point on this box is amazing. If you were considering purchasing even two of these products, it might be totally worth it just to splurge on this box instead. Plus, if you're a Birchbox subscriber and have any points or a coupon code at your disposal, you can snag this box for an even crazier price (with mine I brought the price down to $18.40...just sayin'). That being said, you don't need to subscribe to Birchbox to make a purchase from their shop, and you can still earn points as long as you create an account.
You can shop all of Birchbox's Limited Edition collections here, and you can also check out my in-depth review of the Lovely Day Limited Edition Birchbox here. Remember, these boxes are Limited Edition, so they won't be here forever! If you also decide to pick up the Everyday Glamour Birchbox I'd love to hear your thoughts. Definitely post a comment down below or tag me on Twitter (@blushingbirdie) or Instagram (@littleblushingbirdie) so I can see your pics or reviews!
Which of these products would you be most excited to try?
