Birchbox - Pocketful of Joules

Reviewing Birchbox: July & August Reveals

It’s Birchbox review time again! I love getting a peek into what other people receive in their subscription boxes, so I hope you enjoy seeing what I got.

Let’s get right to it…

My July Birchbox:

Marcelle 3-in-1 Micellar Solution, full-size $21
Clinique Liquid Facial Soap, full-size $17
REN Keep Young and Beautiful Instant Firming Beauty Shot, full-size $54
Oribe Shampoo & Conditioner, full-size $49
Molinard Ambre Eau de Parfum, full-size $65
Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Mascara, full-size $24

This month’s box had bonus items of the packet of shampoo and conditioner, so it was a pretty awesome deal for the $10 subscription cost. With that being said, I actually really disliked the shampoo and conditioner – they made my hair very dry and tangled – so it’s great that they weren’t included in my five items. My favorite item from this box is the Benefit mascara, which works great and doesn’t leave any clumps.

The most pricey item in the box that I wouldn’t have tried on my own is the instant firming beauty shot. I don’t notice any difference, but I’ve only used it a couple times so far. The liquid facial soap from Clinique will be handy in my travel bag for my next trip.

My August Birchbox:

Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray, full-size $22 – $39
ProfilePRO Ultra Nourising Oil, full-size $22.95
REN Flash Hydro-Boost Instant Plumping Emulsion, full-size $42
The Organic Pharmacy Enzyme Peel Mask with Vitamin C and Papaya, full-size $79
Stila Stay all Day Liquid Lipstick, full-size trio $20

I found it really odd that both my July and August boxes contained products from Oribe and REN. One brand repeat would be a coincidence… but two? Super weird.

I was really excited about the Oribe Beach Wave and Shine spray though and used as soon as I received my box. One of my biggest complaints about sea salt spray for beach waves is that it dries your hair out, so I really wanted to see how this version felt. And… I HATED IT. I used it as directed on damp, combed hair and gave my locks a nice scrunch while spraying it on. Instead of soft beachy waves and shine, it left me with limp and stringy hair. Not only for that entire day, but the next day too after I brushed it out. This one is going straight in the trash!

I haven’t had a chance to try the enzyme peel mask, but with a full-size cost of $79 I’m hoping it’s pretty great. I’ll keep you posted on my Instagram account when I use it. The Stila lipstick is not my color, so I’ll add it to my fun stuff pile for my sisters to check out when I see them.

Once again, no real winners in either my July or August boxes. I do now have a back-up mascara for when mine runs out, as well as a few things to add to my travel items box for our next vacation. All in all, I feel like the boxes were worth the $10 price tag. However, if I have another few months of blegh boxes I may need to take another break.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by Birchbox, I paid for the $10 fee with my own hard-earned money. If you enjoyed my review and decide to try Birchbox for yourself, the biggest compliment you can give me is by using my referral link. Thank you to anyone who chooses to click through and support my shopping addiction!

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Reviewing Birchbox: May & June Reveals

It’s Birchbox review time again! I really enjoy getting a monthly surprise in my mailbox, but it gets a little overwhelming (and boring) to blog about them each month. So, instead I do an every-other-month reveal. What do you think? Do you like it, or do you think I should stop blogging them?

My May Birchbox:

Coola Classic Face Sport SPF 50 White Tea, Full-size $32
Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle, Full-size $23.50
Kopari Coconut Crush Scrub, Full-size, $28
Vera Bradley Fragrance, Vanilla Sea Salt, Full-size, $48
Cargo Blush and Bronzer Duo, Full size-$35

When I opened this box, I was most interested in the hair detangler, the coconut scrub and the blush/bronzer duo. I love the scent of coconut, so the scrub was an automatic winner for me. The hair detangler was good, but I already have one I like a lot better.

As much as I really wanted to love the blush and bronzer duo, the design of the compact made it really difficult to use. I mean, it was super tiny so the only way you could put it on was by using a finger. Once I did swipe some on my face, I found that the bronzer had some major sparkle going on. So this was not a good match for my day-to-day life.

My June Birchbox:

Number 4 Clarifying Shampoo, Full-size, $13.50 – $72
Coola Mineral Face SPF Unscented Matte Tint, Full-size, $24
Avene Thermal Spring Water, Full-size, $9 – $18.50
brandt PoreDermabrasion, Full-size, $58
Number 4 Reconstructing Masque packet (bonus), Full-size $38 – $58
Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel, Full-size, $24

I was sent the clarifying shampoo and conditioner in a previous box before I cancelled my subscription (which they have no way of knowing), so I already know that I don’t care for either of them. The dermabrasion scrub is a great size for me to throw into my travel bag on my next trip. I’ll try it out later this week when I’m in DC.

I was super excited to try Benefits brand-new product for brows, Gimme Brows Volumizing Fiber Gel. This product just came out and Birchbox subscribers got the very first look. It is a gel that contains tiny microfibers that adhere to your skin and hairs to make your brows look instantly fuller.

Here’s a closer look at the brush:

I admit that I had no freaking idea how to use this. I even watched a video and tried a few more times before I decided that this is just not the product of my dreams that I was hoping for. It just felt kind of weird to me to basically be brushing mascara on my brows and when I did get some coverage it seemed WAY too striking. I’m glad I had the chance to sample it though.

After a few months of amazing Birchbox surprises, I didn’t get any clear winners from either my May or June boxes. However, both of them were well worth the $10 price tag. I’m looking forward to the next couple summer boxes!

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Reviewing Birchbox: March & April Reveals

I really think taking a little break from Birchbox was one of the best things I could have done, because ever since I restarted my subscription my boxes have been pretty fantastic!

I also like reviewing them every other month, instead of every month… so let’s check out what I received in my last couple boxes!

My March Birchbox:

Wilma Schumann Skin Care Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads – full-size, $26
FHI Brands Hot Sauce Thermal Heat-Activated Conditioner – full-size, $16
Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo – full-size, $24
theBalm Stainiac in Beauty Queen – full-size, $17
treStiQue Color & Smudge Shadow Crayon in Aspen Pine – full-size $26

Out of this box, I had two items that I really loved. First off, I’ve been wanting to try the Amika dry shampoo for a while, so I was really glad that the travel size was included in this box. The dry shampoo works really great and smells fantastic. I think I’ll keep it aside for my next trip since it’s in such a cute little bottle that will easily fit in a carry-on.

A photo posted by pocketfulofjoules (@pocketfulofjoules) on Mar 25, 2016 at 8:53am PDT

I tried out the collagen eye pads and only wish that there were more in the box. I mean, it’s great to get even two to try… but you can’t really tell any different after using a product once. I did feel quite refreshed after trying them though!

My April Birchbox:

Whish Save Crave Shaving Cream – full-size, $20
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask – full-size, $26
Supergoop! Daily Correct CC Cream, SPF 40 – full-size, $32
Vasanti BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator – full-size $34
The Beauty Crop PBJ Smoothie Stick in Guava Nice Day – full-size, $14.95

First off, the Rifle Paper box is gorgeous and I need to re-purpose it so that I can look at it every day! I was most excited about trying out the deep conditioning hair mask, but was really disappointed that it didn’t leave my hair soft or conditioned at all. Instead, after I used it my hair seemed kind of dry and stringy – so I’ll be throwing this one right in the trash!

The rest of the box was a hit though. The Vasanti enzymatic face rejuvenator was one of my absolute favorite products I received when I previously did Birchbox (I even bought the full sized product to keep using), so I’m happy to have a travel sized version to add to my collection. I also really loved the color and feel of the PBJ lip color. I’m wearing it here:

I’m still really loving my Birchbox subscription and I’m really glad I gave them another chance!

Do you like my Birchbox reveal posts, or should I retire them? Have you broken up with a subscription box only to return a few months later and love it?

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