January 2013 birchbox

Hey guys and gals!

So I figured I'd post every Sunday in the year 2013, though it wasn't a part of my initial list of resolutions. On a whim, I decided to make weekly posts for two reasons: (1) as a discipline to myself, being that I'm still fairly new to the blogging scene and (2) as a commitment to my lovely readers!

Today I wanted to share my January birchbox. Unfortunately, my excitement for birchbox ceases more and more as the months pass by.

As you can see, they're back to the regular good ol' cardboard boxes (though I never received their special December one...*sad face*).

The box had quite some weight to it and looked pretty full at first sight.

Here are the products unpacked. For reference, I received box #2 this month (from left-to-right):

1. Harvey Prince Skinny Chic
2. theBalm® cosmetics Hot Mama Shadow & Blush All-in-One
3. Fresh Lotus Moisturizer
4. Lashem Measurable Difference Lash Gel Serum
5. Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo

Now, I'm ambivalent about this box... I'm not entirely happy with the samples, but at the same time I do feel I received one of the better boxes of this month.

I must admit, this month's box was the last straw for me. Unfortunately, birchbox has deeply disappointed the past two months with tiny sample sizes and inequitable product distribution. I'll be unsubscribing after next month's box (I'm trying to collect and redeem 200 points -- I'd have to get my money back some how!).

The clarifying shampoo and lash gel serum are the first two products I tried.

The shampoo didn't smell great (almost reminded me of tawdry men's cologne), but did it's job in clarifying my scalp and softening my hair. I won't be repurchasing, however, as I already have a favorite clarifying shampoo (which I will share in a future post, hopefully).

I was actually excited for the lash gel serum, until I saw how utterly TINY the sample was. I used it 3 nights in a row, but didn't see any particular changes in my lash length/fullness. Now, I know these products don't work overnight and that's where my complaint comes in: how do they figure I use this serum for maximum x10 and decide whether or not I like it or not?! Smart move, birchbox and Lashem, real smart. You just lost a potential customer due to your stingy sampling ways.

The Harvey Prince fragrance was light, floral with high sour notes. Not my cup of tea, as I enjoy richer, sweeter floral scents. In all honesty, it smelled a bit cheap to me (sorry, Harvey Prince!).

The theBalm's Hot Mama shadow and blush came in an extremely cute magnetic package. I'd say the salmon-peach shade with gold shimmer flatters a large range of skintones. Can't really complain with this one.

The Fresh Lotus face cream smells.. well, fresh. It smells mildly of cucumbers at first, but smells like rubber after it's patted and absorbed into the skin. How odd is that? Perhaps the product and my body's chemical makeup don't complement each other.

Again, I have no particular feelings toward this box. I will be cancelling after February's bb.

Stay beautiful,

xo Karries