Birchbox: February

Birchbox time is upon us again! This month my box was all about skincare and a cool new trend in eyeliner that I've been dying to try. In the last couple of months I've convinced a couple of friends to sign up for Birchbox, two of them got wait-listed for about a month. Birchbox is blowin' up! I think a lot of people were gifted subscriptions over the holidays and it caused a traffic jam of requests. But it all seems to be back to business as usual, so if you've been waiting to subscribe - Go! Go now! Okay, let's take a look at what's in my box this month...

Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint - $38, 1.7 oz
Tinted moisturizer is one of my many beauty obsessions, it's the one product I use everyday - whether I'm going to the dog park, work or out on the town. I was really excited to try this one from Jouer. I currently use Smashbox's Sheer Focus in Luminous ($30 for 1.7oz), but am always open to try something new. They're pretty similar, both give your skin a slight glow because there's some shimmer in the tint. The coverage is really sheer (as with any tinted moisturizer), so you'll need a couple of coats if you're looking to cover up redness or acne spots. If you're looking for coverage, it's not gonna be for you. But personally, I love tinted moisturizer because it's so sheer. The Jouer Moisture Tint is available in 5 shades and has SPF 20 (yay!), it's not at all greasy and is pretty fabulous. It is expensive, which would be my only con, but a little goes a long way and it's not a bad way to invest your beauty dollars if you're looking for a high quality product.

Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum - $29, 2 fl oz

This product is making some serious claims, and I'm hoping there's some truth to them because it sounds amazing! This is a serum that's applied to your whole face twice a day, or can be put on problem areas you want to target. It's supposed to unclog pores, lighten scars, fade sun spots and other skin discolorations and help zap acne. The serum contains salicylic acid instead of the benzyl peroxide you'll find in most drugstore products. I've only used it a couple of times, so it's impossible to say if it works as well as they claim. No one will react the same way to any product, so this may not be the miracle in a bottle you're looking for. That being said, I've had salicylic acid peels before and my skin felt amaaaazing afterward.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant - $50, 2.6 oz

This is an exfoliator that comes in powder form, you mix it with water and use the paste on  your face to polish your skin and make it glow. I love this! It's expensive, $50 for 2.6 ounces, but you don't need to use much! Watch the video on Birchbox site and see for yourself, you use more water than product, so a bottle will last you for a looooong time. This is going to be a splurge item, so I would highly suggest getting your hands on a sample to try it for yourself first. It left my skin feeling really smooth and clean, and seemed to brighten it up. My skin has been feeling a little dull lately, so this was just the thing I needed.

Eye Rock Designer Liner - $13, 2 sets
I squealed when I saw this in my Birchbox, I've been dying to try peel & stick eyeliner since the super expensive Dior designs came out a few months ago! These are totally fun, and not hard to work with at all. Watch the tutorial on Birchbox before you try it yourself, it's a snap. I've got a couple of decades worth of liquid eyeliner skills under my belt, so I don't know that I'd buy these unless I was doing some crazy fantasy makeup. But, it's only $13 for two sets, so they won't break the bank. I think the hardest part was trimming it for the right length and the initial lining up. It might take you a few tries to get it just right, but it's not rocket science. If you've ever used fake eyelashes, you can do this! If you'd still rather do a cat eye the old fashioned way (with a brush and a pot of black eyeliner), I highly suggest watching this tutorial the incredible Jane Marie did for The Hairpin! After she's blown your mind with this super easy trick, watch the rest of her tutorials and build an altar dedicated to her, as I have.


Bonus Items: A pink, heart-shaped nail file that I love and a free music download from Green River Ordinance (which I have yet to listen to, sorry!)


All in all, a great box this month! All products I was curious about but wasn't sure I wanted to drop big bucks on just yet. If you're not subscribed to Birchbox, or another similar service, don't think you can't sample goodies like this. Most stores will be happy to give out samples - don't be afraid to ask! It's a great way to test out a product without having to fork over money or annoy the staff with a return, everyone is a winner!


See you next time, kids!