Birchbox v GlossyBox May 2013

I did a comparison of my two beauty boxes last month and, looking at the viewing numbers, you seemed to enjoy it so here is May!

BirchBox

Birchbox has been inspired by Cannes Film Festival this month and themed their offerings around being ready for the red carpet. I love a theme although, apart from the nail varnish, I’m not sure how the other products fit with this theme… not an issue mind, would have just liked them to stick to it if they were naming it 😉

OPI Nail Lacquer £11.50

Anyone following me on Twitter will know that I am a nail polish junkie so I was thrilled to receive ANOTHER in one of my boxes. Happy Phatcupcake… it doesn’t actually say on the mini bottle what the colour is called but the best way to describe it is an orangey pink. Not quite coral as it is lighter but a pretty shade. It isn’t really the sort of colour I would normally wear but I will give it a go, it is a mini bottle so not too much wastage.

Elemental Herbology cell plumping facial hydrator £42

I don’t usually use a day cream as I find it makes my face make up slip off before lunch time. I don’t know how you oily skin ladies get on! The minute you take the lid off this product you are hit with a delightful waft of rose and herbs, just beautiful and certainly a scent to wake you up in the morning. This feels like a light cream when dispensed from the tube but when applied to the skin it sinks in so fast leaving a glowing complexion. It does exactly what it says on the tube, hydrates. Doesn’t pack a huge moisturising boost and this is perfect for my skin. Just enough moisture without being too much. I can’t wait to try this with a primer and a foundation to see whether it makes a difference.

B/Attitude Body Souffle £24

Always sold on a decent pot or bottle I wasn’t overly keen on the white plastic packaging this souffle comes in. When I first sampled the product it felt light so I had high hopes that it would sink quickly into my skin. It also had a lovely light scent that wouldn’t overpower any perfume I later decided to apply. Off to the shower I went to apply this the second I got out, I was disappointed. It leaves a white film on the skin and feels sticky when first applied. It took a while to work into the skin and to lose the sticky residue. That said, when this had happened my skin felt lovely and smooth. Perhaps I was expecting more of a light texture from this product than a full on body cream?

MakeBelieve Enhance lipgloss £7.50

This lipgloss from tanning giants MakeBelieve promises to enhance a natural or assisted tan. The gloss is thick with a hint of shimmer and glitter thrown in for good measure. The glitter is subtle enough to get away with for day wear and I must say I was really impressed with the quality of this product. It is thick but not gloopy or sticky as I was expecting. I have a similar shade in a MAC lipglass and prefer the texture of this MakeBelieve gloss. It stayed put for ages and even after the gloss had left my lips they felt moisturised. This isn’t a selling point of this product but it certainly should be! I’ll be looking out for a nude colour version of this soon.

Doctor Duve anti ageing and firming eye cream £115

I have tried a few eye creams in my time and find that they make my delicate eye area greasy rather than plump and firm like such products claim. I was expecting no less from this sample (I got two! Not sure if this was a BirchBox blip or if I was supposed to but I am not complaining) but this product is light and moisturising. I always say I can’t really judge a product properly from a small sample but I think this would be good for my skin. Shame there is no chance I will ever be able to afford the hefty price tag to try it properly!

Kusmi Tea £13.85

I’m not a huge fan of tea I have to say, especially the messy loose kind. That said I love the tin this is packaged in and the smell is divine! This detox tea promises to boost energy, lower stress levels and rid the body of toxins. Just what I need at the moment so I’ll definitely be brewing some of this tomorrow morning!

GlossyBox

Roger and Gallet Fleur de Figuier shower cream (£9), body lotion (£13) and eau fraiche (£32)

These are fabulous sized sample sachets with a spray top sample of the eau fraiche. I expected this to be a weaker scent than eau de toilette or parfum but it is still very strong and powerful. The scent is described as ‘sensual’ with hints of fig, caraway and grapefruit. There are also notes of mandarin and musk which I would describe as more fruity than sensual. It is a nice smell but I don’t think it is for me. This smells nicer the longer it is on the skin and the shower cream is really moisturising. The packaging is also a little old fashioned but the prices are reasonable for the full sized products.

Jelly Pong Pong fairy lashes mascara £15

!!!! A MASCARA !!!! AND A FULL SIZED ONE AT THAT !!!! Is that enough excitement for you? I LOVE mascara I am totally obsessed with trying new ones. This is a full sized product so well worth the box price alone. Jelly Pong Pong is a brand I have used before for their quirky eyeshadows and lip glosses but this is the first I have heard of their mascara. The wand is quite small which is good for reaching those pesky side lashes. This product is waterproof and long lasting whilst promising to be feather-light as well as lengthening.

BEFORE

AFTER

This did clump a little which I think is due to the small wand but I really like it as a day time mascara. I did forget I was wearing it and it didn’t feel heavy or irritate my eyes like other mascaras can. I don’t think it is dramatic enough for a night out but perfect for normal wear. Great product GlossyBox!

Awapuhi Wild Ginger shine spray £18.95

Another full sized product worth nearly double the price of the GlossyBox, we are really being spoilt helping GlossyBox celebrate their 2nd birthday this month! I used to use awapuhi shampoo and conditioner back in the day. I have dry and fine curly hair… not something you hear of very often! The awapuhi products are moisturising and hydrate the hair beautifully but, being a salon Paul Mitchell product, are also pricey. This spray smells fabulous and promises to add shine whilst also protecting the hair. Next time I subject my dry hair to the dreaded GHD straighteners I’ll be using this for its protection. I’m almost certain I will love it.

Beautiful Movements prime and create mixing medium £20

I love primer, it is another product that helps foundation stay on my skin. I am an avid fan of expensive versions from Laura Mercier and Smashbox but also love the cheap Vivo version. I was intrigued to see a different one in the GlossyBox this month and popped it open straight away to see what it was like. The consistency is exactly the same as Smashbox and Vivo but it smooths so nicely onto the skin leaving it smooth and matt ready for the foundation or tinted moisturiser. This product doesn’t stop there, oh no. It can also be used when mixed with mineral or pigment colours to create a range of finishes from cream eyeshadow to cream blush. What an amazing multi tasker, I’ll definitely be investing.

Headline Colours poolside party nail polish (£9)

Yet another full sized product this month, GlossyBox has really outdone themselves! As ever I was happy with a nail polish but was half hoping that it wasn’t another pink/red colour. That would mean 3 in a month! This colour is called centrefold and is a light natural beige colour. The brush is thin and the coverage on the first application is incredible meaning this polish would be perfect for some nail art designs. This brand has UV absorbers to help keep the colour staying fresh whilst also claiming to be less chipping and less flaking. You can see from the picture above it has a high shine doesn’t need an extra topcoat for gloss. I’m a convert and will definitely keep an eye out for other shades in this range. I saw a few had the bright blue shade in their box, it looks lovely ladies!

Both of these items were paid for.