Getting my Birchbox in the mail is always a great surprise. I never really know when it’s coming, and I always get these great new products! As you probably can see, I have been investing in a lot of great makeup lately – so hair and face products have fell a bit to the wayside. Thankfully my box this month was filled with some new testers that revolve around these two areas (and it came in the cutest pool themed box!)
Shea Terra Organics Rose Hips Black Soap Deep Pore Facial Cleanser Say that five times fast. Although the title is a mouthful, the product itself is fairly simple. You basically apply the soap to a wet face and let it sit for three minutes or so. You then rinse it off with warm water in circular motions for an extremely deep clean – due to the ashes of plaintain and cocoa pods (hence the deep coloring). As you can expect, waiting for a dripping face to dry – and attempting to not get product in your eyes – is a bit difficult. I also found the formula to be a bit drying for my skin, but it definitely deep cleans! I also love that the product is 100% natural – so it’s great for those with sensitive skin.
theBalm Cosmetics Balm Desert Bronzer/Blush I love my theBalm highlighter so I was super excited to try this! The sample is so small – so it’s a bit difficult to get a brush in there. However, I do like that the color gives a natural glow and I feel like it could be a good substitute if you’re looking for a quick face. Just one brush of this can give sun-kissed skin, instead of using several products.
Balance Me Congested Skin Serum This “on the spot” treatment is meant to refine pores and balance skin without overdrying. It definitely smoothes things out, but it had a heavy lemon scent. For me, this was a bit too much. However, if you like the lemon/floral scent then I would give this a go! It’s perfect for when you need a little more attention to spots and is lightweight enough to wear under makeup.
Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray This stuff was my favorite out of the bunch and the one I was most excited to try! I have been looking for something to add some shine back into my hair and this did not disappoint. As a counterpart to the original texturizing spray, this lacks the ‘salt water’ feel and adds a gorgeous shine to your hair. I also love the smell and how it doesn’t make my hair crispy. This may be one of those things that I invest in – but at a cost of $39, it is a bit steep.
St. Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion I came into using this product with low expectations from what I’ve read online. I LOVE the original foam tanner, so this was a bit of a departure for me. This lotion promises a build-able natural-looking glow, while keeping things smooth. The issue is that you need to leave it on in the shower (and out of water) for three minutes – which adds up when you’re trying to get in and out. I also feel like the color isn’t drastic enough for me and it would take a lot of applications to build and maintain a glow. I’ll probably use it to uphold my pre-existing tan, but don’t think I’ll be making a full sized purchase.
Most loved product: Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray
Most disappointing product: St. Tropez Gradual Tan In Shower Lotion
Have you tried any of these products? Do you get a subscription box? If so, what’s included? Let me know!
